Revolution from Eberswalde: Human feces become valuable fertilizer!

Revolution from Eberswalde: Human feces become valuable fertilizer!

A significant step in recycling technology was taken in Eberswalde. The Finizio company has put Germany's first fully automatic recycling plant into operation. This innovative system converts human waste such as feces and urine into high-quality fertilizer. By intelligently separating the materials in dry toilets on festival grounds, a valuable raw material is obtained that was previously often viewed as waste.

The company collects the remains of visitors at festivals and takes them through various processing processes directly on site. The droppings are processed in a special turning machine called “Tina the Turner,” which moves through a pile of green waste, clay minerals and droppings. This method makes optimal use of oxygen and provides the bacteria in the material with the necessary ventilation. After six to eight weeks, a nutrient-rich humus fertilizer for agriculture is created.

Advanced processes for fertilizer production

When it comes to urine, a special pump is used that feeds a precisely dosed amount into a bioreactor. There, microorganisms convert ammonia into ammonium nitrate, which is useful for plants. This technique, known as the “activated sludge process,” also takes care of unpleasant organic substances. Finally, activated carbon filters are used to remove all drug residues. The process ensures that dangerous pathogens are killed while producing a concentrated liquid called aurine. This liquid has a high concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which are crucial for plant growth.

Florian Augustin, the founder of Finizio, explains that the company's goal is to maximize the degree of refinement of the excretions in order to produce a quality-assured humus fertilizer. Despite the complex processes, Augustin is confident that the environmental impact of the fertilizers produced is better than that of their conventional counterparts. He emphasizes: "Our fertilizer does not come from distant countries. It is produced locally and requires significantly less energy because it is based on something that is produced anyway." This underlines the importance of recycling and the sustainable use of resources at a time when environmental protection is becoming increasingly important.

Challenges and legal hurdles

Although the demand for this Eberswalde fertilizer is remarkably high, there is currently a major hurdle: the sale of the fertilizer is not yet permitted in Germany because there is a lack of legal approval. The test as to whether the fertilizer is free of harmful substances and does not contain any dangerous pathogens is still pending. “At the moment we are not allowed to sell this fertilizer,” says Augustin, “that’s why we are carrying out scientific field tests, which, however, involve high costs.” Finizio is striving for rapid clarification from politicians in order to advance the circular economy in Germany and to make the advantages of this sustainable fertilizer method accessible to a wider audience.

The discussion about the potential ecological benefits and the challenges of the legislative process shows that the innovative strength of companies like Finizio is crucial for progress in sustainable agriculture and waste management. Further information about developments in Eberswalde can be found here in an article on www.rbb24.de be read.