Sewage is now being turned into raw materials used by paper and plastic industries around the globe, thanks to a new innovation.

Developed by Israeli firm Applied Cleantech, the ‘Sewage Recycling System’ (SRS) recycles the solids, also called “sludge”, in sewage systems and converts them into consumer products. These are then used as a base for raw materials in the paper and plastic industry.

The company claims the new technology also helps reduce the load in regional sewage plants by around 35%, which means less energy usage and reduced operational and maintenance costs.

Dr Rephael Aharon (pictured), CEO and founder of the firm said: “The revolution is in regarding these solids not as waste that must be hidden, consumed by bacteria or buried, but as a resource and base for raw materials that is sold back to the industry. For the first time ever, this technology is able to recycle solids in wastewater and turn them into raw materials that can be used to manufacture paper and plastic.”

The technology is already being used in Israel and America.