The overall goal of FSM is the protection of public and environmental health. FSM forms a key component of city-wide inclusive sanitation (CWIS), which considers all types of sanitation technologies in order to provide equitable, safe, and sustainable sanitation for everyone. CWIS employs a service delivery approach along the entire service chain, rather than just infrastructure provision. 
Adequately and safely managed fecal sludge has the following benefits:
* Reduce the potential for human contact with fecal-borne pathogens by improving the functioning of onsite sanitation systems;
* Minimize odors and nuisances, and the uncontrolled discharge of organic matter from overflowing tanks or pits;
* Reduce indiscriminate disposal of collected fecal sludge;
* Production and sale of the end-products of the sludge treatment process. These products may include recycled water for agriculture and industry, soil conditioners from composting or co-composting materials, and energy products such as biogas, biodiesel, charcoal pellets, industrial powdered fuel, or electricity.
* Stimulate economic development, and job creation and livelihood opportunities, while addressing the issues of the social stigma and operator health and safety that continue to impact informal workers. This can also include jobs for contractors and equipment installers; for sanitation workers such as sludge collection personnel including drivers and emptiers; and for treatment and reuse systems operators.