[Greenbuilding] Composting Toilet

Tue Jul 11 17:48:17 CDT 2017

Thanks, Dan, for the info and reference.  I've got a small, somewhat 
urban lot, so will have to figure out where to compost, but I think I'm 
checking out the local builder's supply for "decor appropriate" coloured 
pails! As a guide, how many pail fulls would you fill in a month?  A 
good guestimate is better than I'd come up with.

Lynelle

On 2017-07-11 6:41 PM, Antonioli Dan wrote:
> We use the bucket system and have three “humanure haciendas” on the 
> land. John Jenkins “Humanure Handbook” is an amazing read….you’ll 
> learn more about bacteria in this book than in college biology!
>
> We use five gallon buckets and then transfer the contents to used 
> plastic pickle barrels. We date the barrels and let the contents sit 
> in them for a year. During the dry season they lids are off, when it 
> rains the lids are on. We sometimes add red wrigglers and bokashi to 
> help break things down.
>
> Because we have the space, we empty the pickle barrels and let the 
> humanure further biodegrade for 6-12 months. We then use it on 
> non-edible landscaping.
>
> The pickle barrels can be a bit unruly, and we only fill them slightly 
> above half-way so they’re not too heavy. You can also empty the 
> contents into a well mulched pile and keep adding organic matter. If 
> you don’t have a structure over it you can tarp it with a vinyl tarp 
> during the rainy season. The pile we form is a ways away from the 
> haciendas and we don’t want to have to carry the bucket that far every 
> time we empty it. We just hosted a large workshop and it was 
> convenient to have the pickle barrels next to the haciendas. We use 
> sawdust when we have it, but since we ran out we’ve been using finely 
> ground mulch we make with the mulcher, which seems to be better 
> because it’s not only fine woody material that curbs the order, but it 
> has more biodiversity to it and increases the metabolic processing.
>
> Cheap, convenient, no moving parts other than your arms and legs. Just 
> takes a little getting used to if you’re not familiar with it. 
> Definitely WAY better than many of the disgusting outhouses I’ve used, 
> as well as the portapotties that get dirty and stink to high heaven!
>
> Dan Antonioli
> Laytonville Ecovillage
>
>
>
>
> On Jul 11, 2017, at 3:19 PM, John Salmen <terrain at shaw.ca 
> <mailto:terrain at shaw.ca>> wrote:
>
>> Your not going to like this suggestion – all I can say is they are 
>> cheap, the technology works extremely well for composting - and as a 
>> reference I had a very motivated vegan client in Portland (ad Dr. no 
>> less) who used these in all of the bathrooms of his turn of the 
>> century house.
>> http://www.appropedia.org/How_to_make_and_use_a_sawdust_toilet
>> this plan is decent and works surprisingly well – no bins to empty – 
>> but I would spend a little mental energy on drilling out and 
>> attaching some venting (computer fan works well).
>> I designed and built quite a few toilet systems decades ago. Not an 
>> easy thing if you are trying to make everything work. It is difficult 
>> to make a vented, liquid tight system – which is why commercial 
>> composting toilets are basically useless. If they deal with liquid 
>> they use heat – baked poop. I did design a very nice toilet for a 
>> client that circulated liquid as a spray that both denitrifies and 
>> allows for some evaporation (it was a handpump – similar to a flush 
>> handle and children especially enjoyed that feature). This was a 
>> permanent installation that is still in use 20 years later but was 
>> expensive. The venting was complex but was essentially a well 
>> designed chimney. It was a flip system (2 containers – each lasted 
>> one year allowing the previous years collection to be emptied after a 
>> year – a dry compost at that point).
>> Ironically I think the bucket system is the best. Like a large dog 
>> poop bag – but with better followup.
>> For the 5 gal. bucket toilet - Swap the buckets out as soon as you 
>> want to – buy as many buckets as you need. Seal with lids (leaving 
>> the vent hole open) and date the buckets – leave them for 1 year or 
>> so and then use as a tree fertilizer – can give them a shake every 
>> now and then but mouldering is effective.
>> Jjohn
>> *From:*Greenbuilding 
>> [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]*On Behalf 
>> Of*Lynelle Hamilton
>> *Sent:*Tuesday, July 11, 2017 2:41 PM
>> *To:*Green Building
>> *Subject:*[Greenbuilding] Composting Toilet
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> Has anyone had any experience with self-contained composting toilets? 
>> I am putting one in my temporary living space, while I build. I may 
>> leave the unit in the structure afterward. I'd prefer one that does 
>> not require specialized venting parts (some do) and that does not 
>> require a drain to send liquids to the outside, but will consider one 
>> if the unit is clearly a better choice.  I've looked at Sun-Mar, 
>> Excel and one from Sutherland Ontario, but have no idea which models 
>> perform well. It's for one person. Cost, of course, is a factor!
>>
>> Many thanks!
>>
>> Lynelle
>>
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