What To Do With All That Poo At The Olympics?

August 19, 2008

I found this Reuters article this morning and just had to laugh at what can be deemed newsworthy - all the extra manure in Hong Kong from the 200 extra horses competing in the Olympics. But when it’s 20-30 TONS A DAY, I guess it could be a serious issue. I can’t even begin to imagine …

For your Tuesday morning enjoyment:

Behind the equestrian pomp, some serious poop

Reuters UK, Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:13am BST

By Sophie Taylor

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Thirty tons of horse manure a day is some serious stool.

With more than 200 horses from all over the world in Hong Kong for the two-week Olympic equestrian events, organizers are having to dispose of all the extra excrement.

“We are talking about 20 to 30 tons a day,” Olympics zone stable manager Tony Shea, 34, told Reuters.

Hong Kong has set up a HK$37 million ($4.74 million) composting plant to deal with all the manure from horses taking part in the Olympics and next month’s Paralympics.

The process uses earthworms from mainland China to turn feces into fertilizer, Shea added, though he remembers a time when things were done differently.

“When I was a kid, I heard that the farmers in China would take the manure for growing their plants or mushroom farms.”

In an effort to stage a “green” Olympics, the process is aimed at eliminating pathogens and containing “potentially odorous emissions,” the local Environmental Protection Department says.

The plant can process up to 20 tons of manure a day. Shea says it seems to be working smoothly so far.

“I have not had any messages that they cannot deal with it,” he said.

($1 = HK$7.8)

Posted in 2008 Olympics, Horsin' Around