Betcha never thought a banana could perform the same function as a sewage plant. Well, think again. A recent article in The Boston Globe features a biolab in Massachusetts where researchers are experimenting with a natural filtration system consisting of banana plants, willow, and other foliage, as well as snails, bacteria and algae that naturally feed off of the nutrients in muck. It decomposes waste like a conventional septic system, only without the nasty odors.

Six thousand gallons of human and industrial waste water gets pumped into a greenhouse daily; after flowing through the mini ecoysystem, the sludge gets transformed into clean water that is almost of drinkable purity. The system, called Solar Aquatics, is already being installed nationwide.

Much of the appeal is that it makes waste into wonder: “It’s a mini-rain forest in there,” explains the CEO of the biolab. “It’s sound ecological practice and it’s got the added bonus of being beautiful.” In spring, the greenhouse is introducing butterflies to further brighten the eco-friendly sewage plant.

Photo credit: Solar Aquatics