Collect and recycle urine to fertilize Amsterdam's green roofs. Here is a new project born in the Netherlands to obtain phosphorus from urine, a fundamental substance for plant growth. The phosphorus resources of our planet are decreasing visibly. Thus was born the idea of collecting urine to obtain new phosphorus.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Collect and recycle theurine to fertilize i green roofs di Amsterdam. Here is a new project born in the Netherlands to obtain phosphorus from urine, a fundamental substance for plant growth. The resources of phosphorus of our planet are decreasing visibly. Thus came the idea of collecting urine to get it back.
Waternet gave birth to a demonstration project for the urine collection. It is Peecycling and is composed of a series of public urinals. The urine will be collected and the beneficial substances for the plants will be extracted from it, which will be used to fertilize the green roofs of the city.
Agriculture may soon face a phosphorus shortage. In the opinion of the creators of the project it is therefore necessary to go in search of alternatives based on recycling and respect for the planet. Furthermore, urine collection could protect farmers from rising food prices fertilizers.
Waternet therefore decided to create a real urine treatment plant, whose construction began in September. The plant includes pure urine collection points, starting from Peecycling's public urinals. Urine collected from 1 million people could lead to the production of 1000 tons of fertilizer every year.
photo source: zinc-greenroof.com
The project could be exported elsewhere in the world. In essence, it is a matter of going in search of economic and natural alternatives to common fertilizers, which allow both savings and respect for the environment. Amsterdam's green roofs need large amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus to flourish at their best.
photo source: flickr.com
Phosphorus could start to run out from 2030. Waternet hopes to get the fertilizer needed for public gardens and the green roofs of the Dutch capital. A waste product, such as urine, could therefore soon turn into a low-cost fertilizer, which will save money in Amsterdam and many green-spaced cities around the world.
Marta Albè
Photo source: waternet.nl
Read also:
Energy from urine: smartphones will recharge with pee
Urine: will it be the gasoline of the future?
