Perpustakaan Digital ITB

Indonesia confronts the dual crises of inadequate urban sanitation infrastructure and soil fertility degradation due to a long-term reliance on chemical fertilizers. Although reusing faecal sludge as organic fertilizer offers a promising circular economy solution, widespread adoption is significantly hindered by the religious classification of human excreta as najis(impure) by the Muslim majority. This research evaluates the technological feasibility, economic viability, and religious acceptability of implementing sludge reuse systems in the Bandung Metropolitan Area. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the study combined quantitative perception surveys of 311 residents with in-depth qualitative interviews involving 26 ulama (Islamic scholars). Five distinct treatment scenarios were analyzed, ranging from simple drying to advanced phosphorus extraction. Statistical analysis revealed a robust positive correlation (p <.001) between technological sophistication and public acceptance. Specifically, "High" public worry levels plummeted from 72.5% for untreated sludge to 17.9% for extracted phosphorus, confirming that establishing a "perceptual distance" from raw waste is essential for social acceptance. Theologically, the study identified the Islamic principle of Istihalah (complete transformation) as the decisive factor for legitimacy. The ulama consensus indicated that only technologies capable of fundamentally altering the material's essence (e.g., phosphorus recovery) render the product religiously pure (halal). Sociologically, an "Education-Acceptance Paradox" was observed: highly educated urban respondents remained skeptical, whereas rural groups demonstrated greater pragmatism. Economically, however, the fertilizer is perceived as an "inferior good," with 86.5% of respondents demanding price discounts. Consequently, the study concludes that sustainable sanitation requires high-tech nutrient recovery systems to satisfy strict religious criteria, supported by government subsidies to bridge the structural gap between high processing costs and low market willingness-to-pay. Keywords: Sustainable Sanitation, E