Amsterdam is tackling the problem of public peeing with clever new urinals that double up as plant pots.
With a total of 12 so-called GreenPees appearing across Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein and the Red Light District, this new initiative aims to prevent people from peeing on buildings whilst also turning urine into fertiliser.
GreenPee have combined the ultimate trio of functionality, aesthetic and sustainability. Without the need to be connected to a water or sewage system, it’s much less harmful to the environment. Instead, the GreenPee collects pee in a container that is filled with hemp fibres to absorb the smell. Once composted, the fibre-urine mix turns into a phosphate-rich, organic fertiliser which can be used in parks and green areas in a natural way. It’s a super-smart circular economy.
Importantly, the urinals are no eyesore. They look just like traditional planters, just with subtle openings on the side for when you really need to go.
Amsterdam council has invested €50,000 in GreenPee, which was created by a company called Urban Senses, since they first collaborated two years ago—and it seems to have paid off. There has since been a 50% decrease in public urination, GreenPee inventor Richard de Vries told Dezeen.
Featured image: GreenPee