---
title: "These Environmentally Friendly Bricks Are Made out of Human Urine"
description: "Researchers have found a way to convert human urine into building bricks without producing any carbon dioxide emissions in the process."
date: "2018-10-25"
modified: "2018-10-25"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/human-urine-bio-bricks"
categories:
  - "Environment"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "construction"
  - "dyllon randall"
  - "the digest"
  - "urine"
---

# These Environmentally Friendly Bricks Are Made out of Human Urine

![Default Futurism featured image](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Futurism-Filler-Image.jpg>)

## Bathroom Bricks

The next time you pee, think about this: Your urine could one day create the sustainable building materials of the future.

Dyllon Randall is a research engineer at the University of Cape Town. He's also the supervisor on a new project in which students harvested urine from urinals so they could transform the waste into building bricks. Not only could these [bio-bricks](<https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2018-10-24-world-first-bio-bricks-from-urine>) eliminate one form of human waste, they could also help fight climate change.

## Liquid Gold

In a [paper](<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213343718304251>) published in the *Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering*, the team describes the process of creating one of its bio-bricks.

First, they collect human urine in [special urinals](<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213343718306043>) that convert much of the liquid into a solid fertilizer. Then, they add the remaining urine to loose sand they colonized with a bacteria that produces an enzyme called urease. This urease reacts with the urine over a period of four to six days, cementing the sand into the brick-like shape of its container.

This whole process takes place at room temperature, while creating traditional bricks involves the use of carbon emission-producing kilns. And as yet another bonus, the team says it can convert the little bit of human urine left over from the brick-building process into yet another fertilizer.

## Flushed Away

Ultimately, this team has taken something most of us don't think twice about flushing down the toilet every day and transformed it into two things we need: fertilizer and building materials.

Still, the amount of urine needed to produce just one brick would require about [100 trips to the restroom](<https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45978942>), so unless the team is able to get its hands on a lot more urine, these bio-bricks might never find their way onto a construction site.

 **READ MORE:** [World-First: Bio-Bricks From Urine](<https://www.news.uct.ac.za/article/-2018-10-24-world-first-bio-bricks-from-urine>) \[University of Cape Town\]

**More on upcycling waste: [Researchers Devise Method for Recycling Astronaut Urine to Make 3D Printing Plastics in Space](<https://futurism.com/researchers-devise-method-for-recycling-astronaut-urine-to-make-3d-printing-plastics-in-space>)**

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)