Bacteria and other toxic biological waste arising from decomposing bodies can contaminate water sources, representing a public health concern.
Melbourne is one Australian city that’s moving to improve its waste management and reduce its reliance on trucks to collect waste.
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Cities around the world are struggling to manage their mountains of waste. We can use the Internet of Things for smart waste systems that collect, sort, reuse and recycle most of what is thrown out.
Every flush by a typical toilet sends about 6 to 16 litres of fresh water to wastewater treatment centres.
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There are numerous examples of failed aid projects, where sanitation systems have been installed without consulting local people, then abandoned by the community after the project team has departed.
Expecting the rest of the world to adopt expensive, centralized sewage treatments systems common in the U.S. is not realistic.
The Western Treatment Plant in Werribee, Victoria, largely powers itself using biogas – a by-product of sewage treatment.
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Could what we flush down the toilet be used to power our homes? Thanks to biogas technology, Australia’s relationship with organic waste – human and animal excreta, plant scraps and food-processing waste…
A British “poo bus” went into service last week, powered by biomethane energy derived from human waste at a sewage plant. For those of us who follow these matters – and my academic works include Geographies…