Why don't they take human waste & make fertilizer like they do out of animals waste Would it be better/worse?
Answer:
I can be done, it's called 'humanuer' and organic farmers living off the grid have been doing it for a long time. The wastes that come from porta-potties on construction sites is processed into fertilizer also.
Check out composting toilets for remote living if you'd like to know more.
I think that human waste is made of too many different things to be 'healthy' for the enviroment.
Cattle waste is just decomposing grass, for the most part.
their is a certain acid in our stomach that will kill the plant or make it ill
Do you know what humans eat? Animals eat grains, leaves or otherfoods make from natural elements (ok maybe not dogs and cats).
There is nothing natural about processed foods, soda, mcdonald's, or the thousands of processed and packaged foods we eat. This would not make 'natural' fertilizer.
Theoretically, it could be done. But human waste is hazardous. It contains dangerous virii and bacteria that need special handling. But it is true that some primitive societies DO use human waste as fertilizer, apparently without harmful side effects.
it can be done theoretically, but dont try it at home. anyway, its our trash thats a problem.
In our town in Western MD, the biosolids of all of the town is converted into fertilizer. Thing is; there is lots of heavy metals in it so it can be used for certain crops. You can't use it on root crops for instance like potatoes or carrots.
As far as I know, most communtiies have wastewater treatment plants that convert sewage into a more solid matter. Sometimes this solid material is then used as a fuel source (burned) or made bio-degradeable thru various processes.
I've always wondered that. I think they should if it's possible. But then again, there's bacteria and such, but I would think cow's waste would have that too. Hmm.
In the rural area where I live there is no city sewage plant. Each residence has a septic tank that has to be pumped periodically.
The waste that is pumped out of private septic tanks can be spread on the land here (rural Wisconsin). If a person has 40 acres (which most farmers do), you can get a permit to spread the waste from your own septic onto pastureland or cropland - cropland not used to grow food for human consumption.
This is a great question and one that was recently asked in my natural science class at college. From my understanding the reason is because too many human diseases could be passed that way. Also, because people take pharmaceutical drugs and those pass with the feces it would contaminate the soil and crops.
Actually, alot of municipalities take human waste from all the sewers and make methene gas, but then just burn it off. That's such a waste (no pun intended) They could use this to power homes, etc.
Human feces is just too bacteria laden to use in gardens for consumable produce. If we all were vegetarians, then it would be a different answer.
They do its called Milorganite and it works great !!
You are absolute correct and it is a very smart thing to do and will help break dependence on fossil fuels while providing more jobs for americans while reducing pollution from sewage treatments.
Actually, it can be done, and has been done by the Chinese and other countries for centuries. It was done in the west in the middle ages and renaissance too.
As has been stated by others the complicating factors are what people ingest these days and all the weird chemicals from food additives, metal in pipes and dishware and drugs that people take. You also find jewelry and other odd stuff in sewage.
My company is working on a new process that not only makes fertilizer but eliminates the pathogens such as bacteria and viral problem as well as the harder to fight things such as prions which cause mad cow and related diseases.
We also have a natural biological treatment method for handling the heavy metals and processing them out, many in ways that will let us recycle them as well.
The biggest benefit? Oh just thousands of cubic meters of pure natural gas almost for free. By some studies as much as 1/3 of all energy needed for the US can be made this way.
Lastly, it is cheaper and more eco friendly than normal sewage treatment.
We are looking for investment money to start our first full scale prototypes and get them certified by the EPA/DER.
The small scale tests have worked perfectly.
They do . It is called Milorganite made in Milwaukee
people have been doing that for more than a thousand years
the mexican chinampas of the Aztecs where enriched with the material form the public toilets that were o the many bridges goping into the city center
In Mexico also large agricultural operations are fertilized with raw sewage ,which is bad because it lacks the process of decomposition ,and can transmit many diseases ,and it does .
Also in china agriculture is fertilized with human waste directly ,this is called nightsoil ,the fields stink and it is also unhealthy .
Much better to make compost ,and ther are many tyes of compost toilets in use all over the world ,which produce a rich black compost that you can put your nose into.
In thailand the small farmers have beautifull painted toilets by the side of the road ,with flowers and nice smelling herbs ,to entice passers by to use their toilet ,this is how much they value the compost they make from that .
In Mexico many Native people also use compost toilets ,and it is welknown and popular amongst the modern Green people living on the outskirts of modern society.
In Portugal many old traditional toilets are build high up ,with a staircase and the daily intestinal business of the people ,fall directly in the pig feeding trough,
Again in Mexico some very basic country folks toilets consist of just a coral (a reed fence 2 meters square )nothing else ,
you dump the stuff on the floor and the eye that you see watching you does not belong to a pervert ,but is the pig`patiently waiting to rush in after you have gone to consume the treat you left behind .
ever since there have been animals including us their wastes have returned to Nature to feed the soil
here is a short note on compost for your attention.
COMPOST
bones,treetrunks,cardboard,egg... clothes(if they are organic),poop,leaves,kitchen waste,foodscraps,newspaper,
your mother inlaw and kitty litter
and even the dead cat
All can be put on the compost heap
as long as you seal it with a covering of leaves .or put a piece of plastic on top ,
keep it moist and in the shade ,it will then get hot enough to kill all parasites
the worms will devellop,and take care of everything ,the moisture helps decomposition
the plastic keeps in the moisture and protects the worms from predators .like chickens ,birds armadillos,and even dogs .i have seen going in to eat my worm culture
you could add a bit of lime now and again
to make the process more potent
Source(s):
make the compost in a shallow hole ,so that it retains more humidity,
about 2 square meters is good ,and have it under a tree or put a little roof over i t,which does not have to be water proof ,so a palm thatch is enough,
and makesure the garden sprinkler gets there or spray some water on it ,at least once a week,dont have it water logged or the worms will drown or leave
Organic waste is responsible for 70% of contamination in Land fills if it goes out with the trash ,so please do not do this
RECYCLING
Cardboard is also acceptable for recycling
so is glass if you classify it in colors,and
aluminium cans
i think it is because ppl now don't want to go in a bucket so that their waste can be collected to make enrgyplus, how would the ppl from the enrgy plant come aroung and collect it
not many would want ot apply 4 that job
It is already being done.
It is treated with sodium hypochlorite to kill harmful and potentitally pathogenic organisms, then is dumped on farmland by the truckload.
But trust me, it smells soooo bad, you aren't going to want to live anywhere near where it is being used.
You cannot use human, feline or canine waste as fertilizer due to possible contamination. Come on, think about it, what is also classified as a Bio-Hazard besides human blood and urine.feces. You can pass on all kinds of illnesses and diseases this way. Your question could have been researched on your own by googling human waste, and you would have saved yourself embarrassment.
they already recycle human waste. It goes to sewage treatment plants and it separated and disinfected. then it it put into sludge drying reservoirs. It is sold as new earth.
This is currently being done in some places in the U.S. Composting toilets (which you can also use for composting food and other biodegradable waste) breakdown human waste into an organic fertilizer that is non-hazardous. These toilets also do not use water for flushing therefore they are AWESOME for the environment. Unfortunately I live in an area with strict codes therefore we have a conventional low-flow toilet but the composting toilets are great. The best part is because there is no water... there is no overflow. Imagine life without a plunger : )
You're exactly right! Composting human manure IS possible, it CAN be done safely and it IS being done by individuals with little to no cost involved. You can compost your own human manure, too. Here is a link to the book "Humanure Handbook", which you can buy OR READ ONLINE FOR FREE! This man has been composting his familys manure SAFELY for a long time, and it's a fun read. GO FOR IT!
They do hun- for actual bagged fertilizer there is "Milorganite", and a lot of places use reclaimed water for watering lawns and parks, etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/reclaimed_w...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/milorganite...
Great answers! I wonder if the proliferation of beach front condos in Baja California will be using compost toilets when we run out of water? Or the ocean becomes so polluted its toxic to people and sea life. Just a thought. Thanks for the info.
i thinke that it will be worst way i do not know way but that is want i will say but for a human it will be ok way i do not know way>:)
Except for the possibility of disease bearing organisms; there is no reason why it cannot be done. When I was growing up 50 years ago, we had huge veg. garden and our Dad would put all organic waste in soil, including feces. Produce was delicious and all 14 of us survived quite well. It decomposes quickly, I go camping same spot all the time and still do my duty outdoors during the night and sure enough, it is gone the next time we go to the same spot! Good luck and God Bless.
It's easier for humans to catch diseases from human waste than it is for humans to catch diseases from animal waste.
you will find that specific parts of human waste is used when extracted at the farm where it all goes
our feces are too toxic.
it would be the same and they should but it is sort of disrespecting the dead like people would say.
its possible but human waste contains lots of bacteria and other hazardous materials taht could be harmful to human life such as viruses that carry disease and what not
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