Comments on: Can Compost Recycle Our Drugs?

By: Tobe

Tobe — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 00:24:07 +0000

Still waiting for the update: good news or bad or in between. What did you find out?

By: J Day

J Day — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 18:56:34 +0000

Interesting article. I’d love to get an update.

By: kara hummelt

kara hummelt — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 15:06:59 +0000

hey there, this sounds interesting. My family is feeling that compisting is the healthiest way to complete the cycle of give and take on the planet.
Please feel free to email results if that is something you have time for while waiting for compost to finish.
love love love
my heart and soul is full of joy learning about things that make sense.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 14:34:58 +0000

Hi! I find this story fascinating, and thus I’m hoping something’s come of the research. Could you publish a follow-up story or at least some updates to this existing one? Thanks!

By: Sarah Jumel

Sarah Jumel — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 02:23:54 +0000

For an easy and large useful measure of drugs, give a look at the New Orleans water purification system. Everyone north of New Orleans tosses or pours whatever they don’t want (including good old #1 and #2) into the Mighty Mississippi, and everyone in New Orleans (Barring the few that can afford bottled water) drinks it (After it is cleaned up a bit).

By: Kimberly King

Kimberly King — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 05:27:02 +0000

Nice to see someone like Gary is out there who understands poo is a resource not a waste. There is NO waste in nature…

By: Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 22:58:43 +0000

I have been working with a large (150K capacity) CAFO with regard to composting the manure produced.

Using commercial composting methods, temps of 130-145 Fahrenheit are common. Weekly turning maintains a relative constant temp and provides aeration.

Ongoing testing shows that common pathogens found in bovine fecal matter are eliminated during the process. Medications and hormone enhancement drugs, however, are far more difficult to eliminate. Specifically, growth hormone residue is the hardest to reduce thus far.

Turning a composted manure into biochar may affect the outcome. Due to much higher heat used in the processing, we expect to see some change in the concentrations.

Will be following the progress of the study discussed here

By: John Craig

John Craig — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 18:54:37 +0000

Sounds like a worthwhile study. Hope it goes well. Would love to receive updates.

By: William Baker

William Baker — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:19:17 +0000

If high temperature like 130F is needed to compost drugs it wouldn’t be safe to home compost them.

By: Randi

Randi — Sat, 04 Jun 2016 16:06:38 +0000

Can compost recycle our drugs?

Sure, right back into our food.

Bad, bad idea.