Home / Environment / Urine Power: Festival Poo Grows Forest!
Urine Power: Festival Poo Grows Forest!
2 Apr
Summary
- Urine from festivalgoers is transformed into fertilizer to grow native trees.
- The initiative aims to plant 4,500 trees using this innovative fertilizer.
- A £435,627 grant from the Forestry Commission supports this three-year project.
A groundbreaking project is underway to grow 4,500 native trees using a novel fertilizer derived from human urine collected at festivals and events. NPK Recovery, a startup based in Bristol, developed this innovative method, processing urine from revellers at Boomtown Festival into a usable product.
This urine-based fertilizer will now be applied to grow native trees, such as beech, on the outskirts of Bannau Brycheiniog, also known as the Brecon Beacons in Wales. The project, spanning three years, has received substantial backing in the form of a £435,627 grant from the Forestry Commission through the Tree Production Innovation Fund.
Trials have demonstrated that this fertilizer is as effective as conventional alternatives, and this initiative marks its first application for tree cultivation. NPK Recovery utilizes bacteria to extract nitrogen and other vital nutrients from urine, resulting in an odor-free liquid fertilizer. The company employs a mobile laboratory to process urine at the source during events.
This collaborative effort involves the charity Stump up for Trees, co-founded by author Rob Penn, which has an established track record of planting trees for landscape restoration. The partnership aims to leverage NPK Recovery's innovative fertilizer to boost Stump up for Trees' goal of planting one million trees.
