LAUSR

Abstract Urine is a valuable “waste” stream that could potentially be used to off-set the need to mine and produce synthetic fertilizers. There is an urgent need for new sources of key nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, whereby we recycle and reuse these natural nutrients. Urine can be collected using novel no-mix toilets or nutrient recovery urinals, where nutrients are collected and treated on-site for subsequent recovery at resource recovery plants. Issues around scaling of pipes can be avoided by allowing fertilizers to form in removable collection tanks, thus creating a significant paradigm shift in how we currently deal with our “waste”. In this paper, we examine the reasons for focusing on urine, look at novel ways of collecting it and explore current methods for treating the separated urine. We suggest mechanisms that need to be put in place to implement resource recovery at a larger scale and stress the importance of good governance and education in rolling out these initiatives. There is significant potential in re‐examining our modern sanitation systems with an emphasis on recovery rather than just treatment and urine should play a central role.