- Posted on 3 Apr 2025
- 3-minute read
The problem of valuable nutrients being flushed away in sewage has long been recognised and now an Australian-developed solution has been unveiled, appropriately during Climate Action Week.
Developed by researchers working in the Australian Research Council (ARC) Nutrients in a Circular Economy (NiCE) Hub, the NiCE Loo Lab is an innovative mobile public toilet designed with a urine diversion, collection and treatment system to convert human urine into a safe and valuable fertiliser.
The NiCE Loo Lab was launched on 14 March at UTS, showcasing a refrigerator-sized 200-litre membrane bioreactor system that is the product of two years’ collaborative research led by UTS environmental and water engineering specialists with colleagues from the University of Melbourne, supported by Victorian water authority South East Water.
It recently made its public debut in Sydney’s Domain near the Sydney Eye Hospital and NSW Parliament House.
Project leader and NiCE Hub Director, UTS Professor Ho Kyong Shon, said the NiCE Loo exemplified cutting-edge technology in waste management, offering a practical approach to nutrient resource recovery that would conserve water and contribute to the mitigation of climate change.
“The integration of membrane bioreactors into urine treatment processes represents a significant advancement in producing safe, efficient, and sustainable fertilisers,” Professor Shon said.
“But the practical purpose of the project extends beyond the technology itself. Public perception is crucial for building trust in urine-derived fertilisers and retrofitting existing buildings with urine diversion toilets can be costly.
“The NiCE Loo Lab mobile toilet system offers a cost-effective solution while also enhancing public confidence in this sustainable sanitation approach.
“The deployment of the NiCE Loo Lab in suitable settings, such as public outdoor events, can play a role in shaping acceptance, demand and policy support for sustainable sanitation and agriculture.”
South East Water’s Strategic Research Manager Dr Li Gao told the launch event audience the project exemplified how science, technology and innovation could come together to address the pressing issues of water conservation and waste management while transforming waste into a valuable resource to promote sustainable agriculture.
“This launch is not an end point, it is a milestone in broader ongoing efforts to revolutionise how we handle waste,” Dr Gao said. “The NiCE Loo Lab will serve as a catalyst for future innovation and collaboration.”
Professor Shon said the research had extended beyond developing the collection and treatment technology to ensuring the value and safety of its output.
“The City of Sydney and the nursery at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney have been testing our fertilisers in new plant trials with positive results,” he said.
“These trials are part of our broader effort to explore sustainable horticultural practices, promote circular economy of nutrients and improve plant health.”