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11th Annual Rich Earth Summit
This year’s Summit took place in a two-part format: a place-based event on Cape Cod spotlighting regional challenges with nutrient pollution, followed by our virtual convening for the global community of peecycling researchers and practitioners to gather.
In-Person on Cape Cod
Over 100 people attended the Summit on Cape Cod! The motivation to learn about UD in a watershed so impacted by nutrient pollution was palpable; it was thrilling to connect our national community of peecycling experts with local enthusiasts and newcomers to the topic, fostering new collaborations and plans for the road ahead. Hosted in partnership with MASSTC and the Green Center, the event provided a diverse mix of demonstrations, tours, high-level policy, and grassroots organizing.
Some highlights:
Our Research Director, Abe Noe-Hays, presented about how urine diversion and full blackwater diversion can serve as tools in the toolbox for nutrient pollution prevention, followed by a panel discussion with experts from the region.
Speakers explored how UD can work synergistically with more conventional options such as sewering and nutrient-removing septic systems, while being more timely, measurable, and affordable to implement. We’re excited to see how integrating urine diversion as an option that counts in watershed management plans on Cape Cod may have ripple effects for other regions across the country facing nutrient pollution.
Talitha Abramsen presented: Can Innovative Wastewater Tools Unlock More Affordable Housing & ADUs? Wastewater is a limiting factor for creating affordable housing on the Cape as well as across the country. She brought an important spotlight to how urine diversion and compost toilets can increase wastewater capacity on lots, making ADUs possible where they wouldn’t be otherwise–uplifting the intersection of environmental sustainability and housing equity.
Green Center co-founders Hilda Maingay and Earle Barnhart presented about their 25 years of fertilizing with human waste and the even longer history of researching and advancing ecological sanitation and sustainable living systems with the New Alchemy Institute.
Global & Virtual
A month later at our virtual Summit, we were inspired by presentations from around the world on the latest urine recycling implementation projects and research. Over 150 people joined us – see a snapshot of our Summit community in this interactive map of all the treasured watersheds we peecycle to protect!
We were honored to feature Mona Mijthab–founder of Mosan, a member of the Container Based Sanitation Alliance as the keynote speaker: Co-Creating Circular Futures: Lessons from Rural Guatemala
We awarded the 2025 Golden Funnel to Mathew Lippincott for his inimitable work advancing regulatory pathways for EcoSan. Watch his illuminating Summit presentation: Who makes the rules? Identifying pathways to change in US sanitation regulations.
