Sciencebase readers of a certain age will know exactly what I’m talking about if I were to ask, “Can I have a P, please, Bob?” The Bob in question being host of a TV game show for teens too long ago into my past for me to admit when. The Bob in question was almost marginally embarrassed by the question and mildly amused, although it referred only to the choice of letter.
Taking the P of course is a standard British pastime, although I’m not 100% certain about a couple of research papers published today in a special issue of the International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management on composting of solid waste and whether the P remains firmly in place or not.
One of the co-authors on the first paper (Post-composting techniques of digested household waste) is based at the WTO, and no, before you ask that’s not the World Trade Organization it is the World Toilet Organization in Singapore. Honestly. Apparently, the organization has a Toilet Entertainment link on its website (http://www.worldtoilet.org) and says that November 19th is World Toilet Day. Hmmm. Makes you wonder…that’s also the week of Thanksgiving in the US…
The second paper is entitled “Experience in improving fertilizer value of compost by enriching with urine” . The researchers say that “ecological sanitation concepts are closing the loop of nutrients contained in wastewater with agriculture.” Nice…
Personally, I’ve been taking the P to our compost heap for years. My wife, unfortunately, thinks it nothing more than an excuse to indulge in a little back garden naturism. It’s the phosphate and nitrogen content, I tell, her, they are good for the cucumbers! It is to no avail, of course, and the neighbours have told me they prefer theirs with dressing.
By the way, the Bob in question – Bob Holness – of BBC TV’s Blockbusters fame was the first radio broadcast actor to play James Bond.