No matter how different our cultures may be, every dwelling in the civilized world has some sort of toilet in it. And all of us toilet-users do one of two things with it; let’s call those #1 and #2.

Both #1 and #2 can be used as fertilizer, but due to their respective chemical backgrounds, not together.

In our sewage systems, #1 and #2 are normally combined, and then the resultant mixture goes to a sewage cleaning plant. Such plants require lots of power, because separating #1 and #2 is an energy-intensive task.

But if we were to tackle this problem earlier by, say, using a new kind of toilet that separated #1 and #2 and diverted them to different systems, we would all be a lot better off, as we can see by looking to Sweden:

…Sweden’s collected urine goes to municipal wastewater plants, but in much smaller volume so it’s easier to deal with. Research by Jac Wilsenach, now a civil engineer in South Africa, found that removing even half of the nutrient-rich urine enables the bacteria in the aeration tanks to munch all the nitrogen and phosphate matter in solid waste in a single day rather than the usual 30. Urine diversion also makes for richer sludge and produces more methane, which can be turned into gas or electricity, Mr. Wilsenach said. In short, separating urine turns a guzzler of energy into a net producer.

Sweden is pioneering “urine diversion” toilets, with an estimated 135,000 already in use. Here’s to hoping this trend catches on in the rest of the world.

Read more on the subject at The New York Times.