NPK Recovery’s sustainable fertiliser will be used to grow threatened British species after a major grant from the Forestry Commission.
The sustainable science startup transforms urine into a safe and highly effective fertiliser during events like Boomtown Festival and the London Marathon.
It makes sanitation at events more sustainable, while creating a fertiliser that is just as effective as commonly used alternatives.
Now, the odourless fertiliser will be used to grow 4,500 native trees like beech, from seed, in a project backed by a £435,000 grant from the Forestry Commission.
The first seed, a Scots pine, was planted today on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) by Stump up for Trees, a charity boosting tree diversity around the national park.
It comes as fertiliser prices have soared due to the Iran war, impacting farmers and growers, and sparking fears that the cost of food could rise. Research last year showed that NPK Recovery’s fertiliser is just as effective as commonly used alternatives, which are typically made abroad using energy-intensive processes.
Lucy Bell Reeves, NPK Recovery Co-Founder, said:
“Using a nutrient-rich waste product to grow trees is a circular solution with the power to revitalise our struggling native species.“
“We are really proud that we can transform human waste into fertiliser to make events more sustainable and we are looking forward to working with new events this summer.“
“I love the idea that by the end of this three-year project, revellers and runners will have created a fledgling Welsh forest, which could flourish for hundreds of years.”
Based in Bristol, NPK Recovery takes its mobile laboratories to events across the country, turning nutrient-rich human wee into fertiliser as the event runs. The system debuted at Boomtown festival, in August last year. Processing urine at source eases the burden on sewage systems and reduces chemical use. The fertiliser can then be used to revitalise the event site and grow crops in the surrounding fields, or used to contribute to sustainable projects such as this Forestry Commission back tree trial.
Author, journalist and round-the-world cyclist Robert Penn co-founded Stump up for Trees to increase tree numbers and species variety in the national park he calls home. He and his nature-loving volunteers have planted 500,000 trees – revitalising nature, reducing flood risk and boosting biodiversity.
Rob said: “We are very excited to be involved in this ground-breaking project, which has implications for the future of sustainable forestry.“
“As a small charity, collaboration is essential and we are chuffed to be working with NPK Recovery, who are bringing innovation to an area of industry that needs it.“
Pests, pathogens and invasive species have decimated native tree populations. Today, just 7% of Britain’s native woodland is in good condition, causing a 37% fall in numbers of woodland birds over the past 50 years, according to the Woodland Trust.
The project was made possible by a £435,627 Forestry Commission grant awarded via the Tree Production Innovation Fund.
If you want to upgrade the sustainability impact of your sanitation, NPK Recovery offer a range of options – from processing onsite, through to removing waste to be recycled at our Bristol based lab. We’d love to work together – contact us hello@npkrecovery.com.
