Taboos, toilets and biogas

Socio-technical pathways to acceptance of a sustainable household technology

Bibliographic Data

ID13067788
AuthorsNatalie Boyd Williams (0000-0002-7409-2863, University of Stirling, corresponding author), Richard S Quilliam (0000-0001-7020-4410, University of Stirling), Ben Campbell (0000-0002-3678-7410, Durham University), Roshni Ghatani (Purbanchal University), Jennifer Dickie (0000-0002-6302-3854, University of Stirling)
Year2021
Volume86
Pages102448-102448
Publication date2021-12-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnergy Research & Social Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2214-6296 • E-ISSN: 2214-6326
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.erss.2021.102448
OpenAlexW4200213252
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited72

Toilet-linked anaerobic digesters (TLADs) can provide users with a clean gaseous fuel and a fertiliser product as well as offer waste management services. Socio-cultural resistance towards domestic TLADs, due to the use of human excreta as a feedstock, is often articulated as a finite barrier to adoption. However, no research has specifically investigated the issues associated with TLADs separately from those associated with domestic digesters without toilet connections, consequently, there has been little attempt to discover what motivates users to use TLADs. Drawing on qualitative data from Nepal this paper explores how socio-cultural resistance impacts TLAD adoption and subsequent use of the biogas, and how adoption and transition pathways evolve. We argue that socio-cultural resistance is not a finite barrier to adoption and the opportunity to observe or trial a TLAD can positively influence adoption, especially amongst the older generations. Technical issues affected how TLADs were utilised more than socio-cultural norms and we discuss how socio-technical factors might co-evolve to influence sustainable adoption and use of TLADs. Caste and gender were not found to influence adoption pathways as much as the leadership or ‘risk-taking’ characteristics of specific adopters. Adoption of TLADs can occur within a year of a user first observing or trialling a TLAD; however, most users still do not use biogas for ritual cooking, despite having had a TLAD for many years. Grassroots initiatives that understand the diversity of localised socio-cultural norms will likely be imperative for successful TLAD dissemination

Biogas · Business · Economic growth · Economics · Grassroots · Leapfrogging · Political science · Product (mathematics · Resistance (ecology · Toilet · Waste management · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Energy and Environment Impacts · Engineering · Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability · Ecology · Marketing