Community Scale Urine Nutrient Reclamation Program
Since its inception in 2012, the Urine Nutrient Reclamation Program (UNRP) has grown from about 600 gallons/year of urine collected to over 10,000 gallons/year. The program now involves almost 200 participants from around Brattleboro, VT and supplies pasteurized urine fertilizer to 4 different farms for use on hay fields. This panel begins with a short presentation on how the program works from UNRP director Arthur Davis and then features a panel that includes urine donors, farmers, builders, and legislators to share their perspectives on involvement with this unique program.
Arthur Davis holds a B.A. in Geology and Environmental Studies from Oberlin College and has been a urine donor for the Rich Earth Institute for many years while living in Brattleboro where he grew up. Arthur’s first experience working with alternative human waste systems was at Oberlin where he worked as an operator of a Living Machine Wastewater System, a closed-loop grey-water recycling system designed to mimic the nitrogen removal processes of wetlands. He has also worked as an educator and engineer aboard the Schooner Adventuress in the Puget Sound, teaching about the Puget Sound ecosystem and resource conservation aboard the ship. He is excited to be back in southern Vermont, working toward completing the food nutrient cycle. At Rich Earth, Arthur directs the Urine Nutrient Reclamation Project and coordinates Rich Earth’s new festival toilet business, as well as working on ongoing research.
