South Korean toilet turns waste into energy, pays users

ULSAN, South Korea — Researchers in South Korea have developed a toilet they say turns human waste into energy.

It works like this: A person uses the toilet, then vacuum suction whisks waste away to a microbial reactor. The micro-organisms digest it and release bio-gas that can be used as fuel.

The process also releases carbon dioxide, which can help grow green algae that can be refined into bio-diesel.

The toilets only use about a pint of water per flush. They are being installed at South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology.