Phosphorus might not be a household name, but it's quietly propping up life as we know it. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient that supports life on Earth. It plays a critical role in plant growth and food production, which is why it's one of the key ingredients in agricultural fertilizers. However, despite its importance, phosphorus is a non-renewable resource, and our current methods of using and managing it are far from sustainable. Every time you flush, you’re sending some of it down the drain.
Phosphorus Matters More Than You Realize
Phosphorus is a naturally occurring element found in soil, water, and living organisms. In agriculture, it’s used to support healthy root development, boost crop yields, and improve overall plant resilience. It’s one of the three core nutrients in fertilizers — listed as the “P” in NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium).
Without phosphorus, global food production would struggle to keep pace with population growth. Yet, most people don’t realize that the world’s supply of phosphorus is running out. Geologists say we will reach peak phosphorus, i.e. use up all the reserves we have access to, within the century, if not sooner.
But phosphorus can’t be manufactured, it can only be mined or recovered. And most of the world’s phosphorus is mined from limited geological reserves, located in a small number of countries, the vast majority coming from Morocco. This creates an undiversified reliance on a small number of mines for the world's food-growing needs.
It’s A Finite Resource with Growing Demand
Roughly 90% of the phosphorus mined globally is used for agriculture. And mined phosphorus typically comes into the market in quick release form - so when it’s applied to fields, a significant portion is lost through runoff. It is also often used inefficiently. When overapplied his phosphorus rich runoff turns into nutrient pollution, impacting waterways and leading to harmful algal blooms that can close local lakes and rivers and pose health risks to both people and wildlife.
As global demand increases and reserves decline, phosphorus is quickly becoming recognized as a strategic resource. Geopolitical control over remaining reserves, price fluctuations, and environmental degradation from mining all add to the urgency of finding more sustainable phosphorus recovery solutions.
Waste Rich in Phosphorus is An Overlooked Opportunity
Human waste, especially urine, contains a surprising amount of recoverable phosphorus. Urine carries up to 80% of the phosphorus excreted by the body. But in most sanitation systems, this phosphorus is diluted, mixed with water, and sent to treatment plants or directly into the environment, where it too contributes to nutrient pollution.
Capturing and recycling this phosphorus is a circular alternative to mining that allows communities to not just source nutrients locally, but create closed, localized nutrient loops.
Enter Wasted*
The Future of Fertilizer is Recycled
At Wasted*, we’re rethinking sanitation by turning what’s traditionally considered high-impact waste into a low-impact resource. Our systems separate urine at the source, allowing us to capture and process it into a slow-release, high-quality fertilizer called WeeBloom!
By recovering phosphorus from human waste, we keep this nutrient-dense waste out of waterways while reducing reliance on mining. This closed-loop nutrient recovery system supports soil health, local agriculture, and models a more sustainable and food-secure future.
As agriculture continues to rely on phosphorus to meet the demands of a growing population, the need for more resilient and renewable systems becomes clear. By using products like WeeBloom, we can reduce dependence on limited phosphate rock reserves, improve nutrient cycling, and support local food systems. This approach not only addresses the issue of phosphorus scarcity but also offers a scalable path towards more circular, environmentally responsible farming practices.
Want to participate in a more circular future? Get WeeBloom today!
