Editing Compost (section)

=== Human excreta{{anchor|Humanure}} ===
{{Further|Reuse of excreta}}
[[Human excreta]], sometimes called "humanure" in the composting context,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://modernfarmer.com/2017/03/humanure-next-frontier-composting/ |title=Humanure: The Next Frontier in Composting |first=Brian |last=Barth |work=Modern Farmer |date=7 March 2017 |access-date=23 March 2022 |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521095117/https://modernfarmer.com/2017/03/humanure-next-frontier-composting/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/may/12/humanure-composting-toilets |title=Humanure: the end of sewage as we know it? |via=[[The Guardian]] |work=Grist |date=12 May 2009}}</ref> can be added as an input to the composting process since it is a nutrient-rich organic material. Nitrogen, which serves as a building block for important plant amino acids, is found in solid human waste.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nitrogen in the Plant |url=https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/wq259 |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=extension.missouri.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-02 |title=Human waste could be used to create nitrogen-rich fertilizer |url=https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200602/Human-waste-could-be-used-to-create-nitrogen-rich-fertilizer.aspx |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=News-Medical.net |language=en}}</ref> Phosphorus, which helps plants convert sunlight into energy in the form of ATP, can be found in liquid human waste.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phosphate in Urine |url=https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=hw202342 |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=wa.kaiserpermanente.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Phosphorus Basics: Deficiency Symptoms, Sufficiency Ranges, and Common Sources |url=https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/phosphorus-basics-deficiency-symptoms-sufficiency-ranges-and-common-sources/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Alabama Cooperative Extension System |language=en-US}}</ref>

Solid human waste can be collected directly in [[composting toilets]], or indirectly in the form of [[sewage sludge]] after it has undergone treatment in a [[Sewage treatment|sewage treatment plant]]. Both processes require capable design, as potential health risks need to be managed. In the case of home composting, a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms, can be present in feces, and improper processing can pose significant health risks.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Domestic waste composting facilities: a review of human health risks.|journal = Environment International|volume = 35|issue = 2|pages = 382–9|date = August 2012|pmid = 18701167|last1 = Domingo|first1 = J. L.|last2 = Nadal|first2 = M.|doi = 10.1016/j.envint.2008.07.004}}</ref>  In the case of large sewage treatment facilities that collect wastewater from a range of residential, commercial and industrial sources, there are additional considerations. The composted sewage sludge, referred to as [[biosolids]], can be contaminated with a variety of metals and pharmaceutical compounds.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kinney |first1=Chad A. |last2=Furlong |first2=Edward T. |last3=Zaugg |first3=Steven D. |last4=Burkhardt |first4=Mark R. |last5=Werner |first5=Stephen L. |last6=Cahill |first6=Jeffery D. |last7=Jorgensen |first7=Gretchen R. |title=Survey of Organic Wastewater Contaminants in Biosolids Destined for Land Application † |journal=Environmental Science & Technology |date=December 2006 |volume=40 |issue=23 |pages=7207–7215 |doi=10.1021/es0603406 |pmid=17180968 |bibcode=2006EnST...40.7207K |url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es0603406 |access-date=2 January 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414130639/https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/es0603406 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morera |first1=M T |last2=Echeverría |first2=J. |last3=Garrido |first3=J. |title=Bioavailability of heavy metals in soils amended with sewage sludge |journal=Canadian Journal of Soil Science |date=1 November 2002 |volume=82 |issue=4 |pages=433–438 |doi=10.4141/S01-072 |url=https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.4141/S01-072 |access-date=2 January 2021 |hdl=2454/10748 |hdl-access=free |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713211355/https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.4141/S01-072 |url-status=live }}</ref> Insufficient processing of biosolids can also lead to problems when the material is applied to land.<ref>{{cite news |title='Humanure' dumping sickens homeowner |url=https://www.insideottawavalley.com/community-story/3800586--humanure-dumping-sickens-homeowner/ |access-date=2 January 2021 |publisher=Renfrew Mercury |date=13 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110103646/https://www.insideottawavalley.com/community-story/3800586--humanure-dumping-sickens-homeowner/ |archive-date=10 November 2015}}</ref>

[[Urine]] can be put on compost piles or directly used as fertilizer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://esa.un.org/iys/docs/san_lib_docs/ESR2web%5B1%5D.pdf |title=Stockholm Environment Institute - EcoSanRes - Guidelines on the Use of Urine and Feces in Crop Production |access-date=14 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230041356/http://esa.un.org/iys/docs/san_lib_docs/ESR2web%5b1%5d.pdf |archive-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Adding urine to compost can increase temperatures, so can increase its ability to destroy pathogens and unwanted seeds. Unlike feces, urine does not attract disease-spreading flies (such as [[Housefly|houseflies]] or [[Calliphoridae|blowflies]]), and it does not contain the most hardy of pathogens, such as [[parasitic worm]] eggs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Trimmer |first1=J.T. |last2=Margenot |first2=A.J. |last3=Cusick |first3=R.D. |last4=Guest |first4=J.S. |title=Aligning Product Chemistry and Soil Context for Agronomic Reuse of Human-Derived Resources |journal=Environmental Science and Technology |date=2019 |volume=53 |issue=11 |pages=6501–6510|doi=10.1021/acs.est.9b00504 |pmid=31017776 |bibcode=2019EnST...53.6501T |s2cid=131775180 }}</ref>