[Greenbuilding] Composting Toilet

[Norbert Senf]

We're near Ottawa, and run ours through an HRV to get enough evaporation
power without a big energy in the winter...............N

On Tue, Jul 11, 2017 at 7:14 PM, John Salmen <terrain at shaw.ca> wrote:

> Amazing how time flies. Your ‘septic’ system has outlive most in the
> country.
>
>
>
> That was the basic design used in a lot of home on the gulf islands here
> at the time that are still functioning well as they didn’t need much
> emptying (they mostly had venting problems) – essentially it will always be
> a mouldering compost. I added a liquid drain and pump and a series of racks
> in designs that allowed material to be aerated – be re-saturated and
> eventually tumble to the next rack.  I also found it useful to have a dual
> chamber that ensured one pile would sit without any fresh material being
> added. But that all came as extra cost.
>
>
>
> They were fun and complex to design.
>
>
>
> *From:* Greenbuilding [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces@
> lists.bioenergylists.org] *On Behalf Of *Norbert Senf
> *Sent:* Tuesday, July 11, 2017 4:03 PM
> *To:* Green Building
> *Subject:* Re: [Greenbuilding] Composting Toilet
>
>
>
> Not simple, either, and bulky but we built a Clivus-type mouldering
> toilet, designed at McGill University, 36 years ago.
> http://blacksheepinn.com/includes/images/gallery/eco_
> conservation/composting.toilets.12.jpg
>
> We use it in a 2 person household and are very happy with it. It requires
> electricity to ventilate to evaporate off the liquid.
>
> We empty it every 2 or 3 years and get maybe 20 buckets of compost.
> Because it is power vented, there is no smell.
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 11, 2017 at 6:19 PM, John Salmen <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.
>
>
>
> J john
>
>
>
> *From:* Greenbuilding [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces@
> 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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> --
>
> Norbert Senf
> Masonry Stove Builders
> 25 Brouse Road, RR 5
> Shawville Québec J0X 2Y0
> 819.647.5092 <(819)%20647-5092>
> www.heatkit.com
>
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-- 
Norbert Senf
Masonry Stove Builders
25 Brouse Road, RR 5
Shawville Québec J0X 2Y0
819.647.5092
www.heatkit.com
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