Process of making biosolid fertilizers
The process of turning biosolids into a fertilizer begins at a treatment plant to be disinfected. The initial phases separate water from heavier waste, or sludge. The cleansed water is reintroduced into a body of water. The sludge undergoes a heating, thickening, digestion and de-watering process which eliminates moisture and bacteria. This is accomplished with centrifuges, then digesters, which can convert the sludge into methane gas which powers boilers, heaters and electricity. A polymer solution causing solidification is mixed with the sludge, turning it into biosolids. The biosolids, now a cake-like substance, are stored in hoppers equipped with chutes which funnel the substance into trucks and shipped to farmlands.
The Pros
Human wastes are readily available year-round, and with six billion people on earth it is an abundant resource. Commercial fertilizers are beginning to rise in price. Human wastes can prove to be a cheap substitue for it. Human wastes need dumping sites – landfills, incinerator, and oceans – of which are less available, more costly to use, or legally off limits. The country of Israel recycles 65% of its wastewater to crops and since its introduction no illnesses and complications have been linked to its use. A study in Finland also showed that when urine was used as a fertilizaer to a patch of cabbage positive results accumilated. The cabbage fertilized with urine was compared with similar plots of cabbage that either went unfertilized or where commercial fertilizer was used. At harvest, the cabbage enriched with the urine had several advantages: It was slightly larger, it grew to its maximum size more quickly, and, for most of the growth cycle, it suffered less bug damage than the commercially fertilized variety. As a result of the findings, the scientists concluded that urine produced by one person over a year would be enough to grow 160 cabbages – that's 64 kilograms (141 pounds) more cabbage than could be grown in a similar plot fertilized with commercial fertilizer. An instance in Zimbabwe also resulted into lush crops from using human waste fertilizers. The locals would collect all the human feces and store it in the ground, along with ashes and leaves, and would let it sit for days, to kill any pathogens. In turn the process fertilizes the soil around it. After several weeks the locals would then plant their crops on the soil, which result into lush crops. Countries and farmers are hesitant to use human wastes as fertilizers but as the prices of commercial fertilizers go up they may be more willing to. As research has shown human waste fertilizers can result into positive effects.
The Cons
Modern methods for disposing of human wastes are not designed for reusing and recycling it. Meaning that building a whole new set of infrastructure to transport the biosolids into the farmlands would be needed. In countries where human waste is irrigated to farm lands it is often delivered through the sewage systems. The dumping of materials into the sewage systems is lightly monitored. Industrial wastes that are dumped into the sewage systems are often times mixed in with the biosolids. Farmland is not suited to absorb chemicals and heavy metals. The whole purpose of using biosolids as a fertilizer is actually being contradicted because in the process of the delivery farmlands are being harmed. There have been instances where diseases such as typhoid and cholera have been linked into the use of biosolids as a fertilizer.
The potential stakeholders
Some potential stakeholders include; Environment Canada, they have to regulate the processes, making sure it is up to safety and sanitary standards; the farmers, they have a choice in whether to use this technology, which could benefit or destroy their crops; the consumers, we decide if we want to eat food that has been grown in our own wastes, a very uneasy feeling.
Are we influenced by the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance?
It is possible that we are influenced by western views. In a country where the human development index is high, poverty is less than 20%, and an economy that surpasses other countries, Canada is a very fortunate country. When we hear of feces or urine we don’t think of fertilizers we think of toilets, dumps, sewers. People in countries that are less fortunate than Canada are more tolerant towards unsanitary conditions because they live it everyday. They have no choice. In Canada we are fortunate to have regulators and facilities that could accommodate and deal with high sanitary standards. When we are used to such a standard it is hard to develop an understanding for using biosolids as fertilizers.
Conclusion
“You are what you eat.”
- Franklin P. Jones
When we put this quotation in context, when we use biosolids as fertilizers, does that make us the stuff the comes out of our rear end? In the bigger picture the only possible pro of using biosolids as fertilizers is monetary gain. Research has shown that most of the countries or places that use biosolids as fertilizers are third world countries or places below or at the poverty line. The thought of eating food grown out of my own feces is just unbearable. What would be the point of taking a number two or a number one if we’re just going to put it back into our body anyway?
Works Cited
Colwell, Carolyn. "Human Urine Safe, Productive Fertilizer - Washingtonpost.com." Washingtonpost.com - Nation, World, Technology and Washington Area News and Headlines. Web. 26 May 2010.
"Getting the Most from Human Waste." Use Celsias.com - Reduce Global °Celsius. Web. 26 May 2010.
"Real Organic Agriculture: Using Human Waste as Fertilizer Worldwatch Institute." Worldwatch Institute Vision for a Sustainable World. Web. 26 May 2010.
"Recycling Organic Waste USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Find Articles at BNET." Find Articles at BNET News Articles, Magazine Back Issues & Reference Articles on All Topics. Web. 26 May 2010.
"Using Human Urine As A Liquid Fertilizer." EzineArticles Submission - Submit Your Best Quality Original Articles For Massive Exposure, Ezine Publishers Get 25 Free Article Reprints. Web. 26 May 2010.
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