OSU Professors Find New Way To Dispose Of Human Waste

Two OSU chemical engineering professors say they've found a new way to dispose of human waste.

Doctors Gary Foutch and AJ Johannes say they've harnessed the same technology already used to de-water industrial sludge, to take the water out of human waste.

The professors say it's an important discovery, because 40 percent of the world's population, three billion people, don't have access to bathrooms or toilets.

"It kills bacteria, kills parasite eggs that can cause intestinal worms, so people can actually touch the stuff, and move it to processes for agricultural use or energy production, and make it safe to handle," Dr. Foutch said.

In the next month, the professors will submit another proposal to the Gates Foundation. If they get a green light, they'll have funding to build these machines in these countries that desperately need something to treat human waste.