Could poo be used to make roads and buildings?, tell me about this news in (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c3eqzwqyz0yo)
09-09-2026
Scientists have found that human waste (poo) could indeed be used to create stronger, more environmentally friendly concrete for roads and buildings.Key Details from the BBC Newsround Report:
- The Core Discovery: Researchers discovered that human sewage collected from treatment plants can be heated and converted into a charcoal-like substance called biochar. When ground into a powder, this biochar can replace part of the cement traditionally used in concrete mixtures.
- The Research Team: The study was led by civil engineer Raghuvesh Tiwari from Manipal University Jaipur in India, with findings published in the journal Scientific Reports.
- Strength & Results: The scientists tested mixtures replacing 5%, 10%, and 15% of cement with biochar. They found that replacing 5% of standard cement with biochar actually produced a stronger concrete that continued to gain strength as it dried, performing even better than standard concrete.
- Environmental Impact: Cement production is one of the world’s major sources of carbon emissions. Replacing even a small fraction of cement with treated waste could significantly reduce carbon emissions while recycling sewage waste.
- Next Steps: While laboratory results are promising, researchers noted that further testing is required to determine how this biochar concrete behaves under real-world weather and heavy-use conditions before it can be rolled out for everyday construction.