From flush to fertiliser, urine is liquid gold

A new processing technology lab that converts human urine directly into fertilizer has been unveiled. The Nutrients in a Circular Economy (NiCE) Hub is focused on transforming Australia’s wastewater industry by advancing decentralised urine diversion and processing it into fertilisers tailored for local conditions.

This four-year national initiative engages stakeholders across the system to create a scalable circular nutrient economy. This in turn supports resilient wastewater and agricultural sectors, a healthy environment, and innovative manufacturing. 

The program aims to address four key areas: urine collection infrastructure and adoption, advanced processing technologies like Urval and Ugold, optimised fertilizer formulations to meet plant and soil needs, and long-term assessment of fertiliser performance and environmental impacts. By integrating technical, economical, and environmental solutions, the NiCE Hub seeks to drive sustainable resource recovery and circular economy practices in urban settings. 

Global fertiliser production relies on finite resources like phosphorus and nitrogen, which are depleting rapidly. Meanwhile, nutrient pollution from wastewater poses serious environmental challenges. Urine, containing ~80% of the nitrogen and ~50% of the phosphorus in domestic wastewater, offers a sustainable alternative for fertiliser production. However, cultural taboos and a lack of awareness hinder the adoption of urine reuse. Bridging this gap is vital to addressing nutrient scarcity and promoting sustainability. 

The groundbreaking innovation hub, funded by the Australia Research Centre (ARC) and led by UTS in partnership with eight universities, 20 industry partners and three overseas research organisations, was launched at UTS on Friday, 14th March 2025, during Climate Action Week. The system demonstrates impacts in sustainability and innovation, supporting efforts to inspire action on climate resilience and resource recovery.

A NiCE Loo mobile trailer with a built-in source-separation and treatment system that directly transforms urine into fertiliser, showcased the unique innovation system. The innovative mobile toilet diverts liquid waste (urine) into a built-in mini treatment plant, where advanced technologies (membrane-based) transform it into a valuable resource. The process converts ammonium into nitrate, removes bacteria, pathogens, and micropollutants and produces nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer ideal for healthy plant growth. The benefits of this process are significant: reducing the load and energy use at wastewater treatment plants, minimizing sewer pipeline corrosion, and repurposing nutrient-rich urine into sustainable fertilizer.