Toufiq Reza of FIT has discovered that hydrothermal treatment of septic tank waste could produce phosphorus-rich fertilizer. Hydrothermal carbonization is a technique that can transform biomass into energy and could have major impacts on developing countries.

“The idea was instead of the homeowners who could be struggling to pay for the septage pumping fee, could we convert their burden into something valuable and locally useful. This way we could eliminate the septic tanking pumping fee, with someone coming, taking it and converting it to fertilizer and selling it to the local community,” Reza said.

• Toufiq Reza