Ep 6 How Nature Manages Waste

How cow’s stomachs inspired the design of a zero power, zero odour and zero chemical sewage treatment plant in India. Function: Manage waste Biological model: Cow stomach compartments and rumen microbiota Engineering translation: ECOSTP sewage treatment system Sources / further reading • Appels,L., Baeyens, J, Degrève,J,, & Dewil,R. 2008. Principles and potential of the anaerobic digestion of waste-activated sludge. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science. 34:6:755-781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2008.06.002. https://share.google/2RbH6WTvrTuxLynpr• Metcalf & Eddy. Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery. 2014. https://share.google/Ma1khM8anLxRmGJFx• Perez, H. G., Stevenson, C. K., Lourenco, J. M., & Callaway, T. R. 2024. Understanding Rumen Microbiology: An Overview. Encyclopedia, 4(1), 148-157. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia4010013. https://share.google/Eisaa8O3MCLEOCXi9• Van Soest PJ. Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant. Cornell University Press; 1994. https://share.google/O2hWmaSlyaRyjR3q8• Xu Q, et al. Gut Microbiota and Their Role in Health and Metabolic Disease of Dairy Cow. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2021;8:701511. https://share.google/YxxwNM4aQVjtCzO81Image credits • Cow diagram, illustration adapted from Graham's family Dairy • ECOSTP Antharam, via Organo Written and produced by Melanie Farmer. Podcast: Wild engineers. For learning and inspiration. Music and production completed in Movavi 2026. Please validate any design application for technical use.