Composting toilet

[JWFITZ]

I think there can be a number of reasons that composting toilets are superior to septic systems.

One is cost. Much cheaper to build. A good cabin system that would support 2 is a 500 dollar proposition at tops.

Two is containment. In my case any liquid run off runs into an enclosed, lined drainfield with various plants happily living in it.

Third is retention of various compounds that don't easily if ever break down, and septic systems really don't work on, like a lot of medicines, caffeine(the number one ground water pollutant in King County, Wa. Sounds like a joke, but apparently its not.)

Fourth would be the tremendous saving in water, and no matter whether being on municipal or catchment water, this is a boon.

Of course at some point you'll need to haul around buckets of fermenting poop. That's a downside.

Sorry, perhaps should have been more sensitive about the yurt comment. Thanks, I don't want to buy one, and have lived in one for a couple of years actually in the early '90s. I don't mean anything un-duly negative about yurt living--but certain sorts of "trendy" "alternative" living things get more than a little, in fact way way more than a little, hyped and over promoted, and I just personally find yurts in general symbolic of that kind of thing.

So that being said, I worry a bit about the rise of "BucketGirl" out there wheeling and dealing composting toilets. LOL. No offense, but I can see the possibility for that, and I rather set a more muted, sensible, and well informed tone about the whole thing.

[YurtGirl]

quote:

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Originally posted by JWFITZ

... I worry a bit about the rise of "BucketGirl" out there wheeling and dealing composting toilets. LOL. No offense, but I can see the possibility for that, and I rather set a more muted, sensible, and well informed tone about the whole thing.

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I hear you and am laughing my a** off right now... Good quick wit you have there, sharply honed. My handle was given to me by many other people, not self imposed, so I think it's appropriate to use in some places, PunaWeb included as that was my introduction, but I hear what you're saying. Good info on the composting toilets btw. I won't try it again without some major education and research, not to mention a full body glove, but cool that you're sharing your know-how.
Aloha~
YurtGirl... not to be confused with BucketGirl... []

[pslamont]

When Theo Lupien returns to the island (with me from Thailand) he has the bomb of a design. He has used his composting toilet with a water garden system in Fern Acres for years with no stink, no bug problems, etc... It requires placement in such a way as to allow sun and heat and the toilet itself is elevated above fround at least 5 feet so that the tank (55 gallon drum) underneath can be changed out every 6 to 12 months... but it is all made from simple, inexpensive items available on island and produces "humanure" that is clean and useful (though for reasons of heman medication use, we recommend it not be used on food gardens but decorative gardens only).

I am sure that come September or so, I can talk him into a demonstration "seminar" for anyone interested. Keep me posted if you are... Pam

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!

[Crizzy]

Please keep me in mind if you provide this seminar. Mahalo!

[Guest]

You can build your own.
There are many ways to make them.

The prefab ones are about 2000.00

Some use power to warm the compost and evaporate the urine.

Some have a funnel to divert the urine.

anyone who is a serious gardner knows to never waste urine. That is some prime nitrogen rich stuff.
water your plants 1:9 urine water ratio or add all your urine to your compost pile.

[Crizzy]

No sheeeet?!! I now have a better respect for urine/nitrogen. WASTE not, want not! LOL!

I'm really impressed with the composting lua that was built at Halape in the Volcanoes Nat'l Park, see pics at www.compostingtoilet.com

Anyone have a good website they can direct me to showing directions on building your own?

[Guest]

Congrats on getting your blog listed on Hunters webroll Crizzy!!!!!

Composting toilets.... if you absolutely have to have one .... then go for it!

I've heard from MANY people off of Punaweb that they aren't the greatest things in the world. []

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It is the way the way it is.

[Crizzy]

No sheeeet!!! Hunter finally linked to my website?!! Too cool! Thanks for the update!!!

[terracore]

Hello,

I am reviving this thread. Unfortunately it doesn't really contain any useful information. Anybody have any experience with composting toilets? My desired application: no grid power, affordable, easy to use. This would not be a "permitted" application.

[rainyjim]

My favorite experience was the incinolet, guess what that model does! Despite being my favorite its also the scariest and probably the least sustainable. I don't know exactly how much power it uses but I'd feel it would have to be quite the hog, perhaps making it the wrong toilet for your off grid application.

You should probably go with a simple 2 vault system that has easy accessibility for "raking" or "turning" the compost. The idea being full up one vault and then use the next when composting the first. I think you first need to decide 2 things:

1. How many people will be using said toilet.

2. Do you want to buy a manufactured toilet for the purpose, or do you want to build you own - DIY style. Both parts of # 2 require you asking yourself what your budget is.

I have a link to a fellow who made a raised 2 vault system on a wooden deck / pedestal and covered it with scrap roofing and walled it in with bamboo...I think he dubbed it the "throne room" - looking at the pictures and materials he clearly did this in Hawaii and probably on the big island.

Cheers

rainyjim