Instead of an outhouse (not particularly good for the environment), I've been checking out composting toilets. Humanure to be exact. The premise is that human waste can be recycled onto the land once composted properly. 3 people that flush 2x/day @ 1gpf, can use 540G water per quarter. Using a composter, thats 540G not pumped by the well pump, and 540G not stuffed into the septic system (or turned into chemical toxic waste that gets dumped into a river somewhere from a big city system). And it makes free compost for garden or other plantings. A compost bin is layered with hay/leaves/dry biomass, and human waste, dead animals, all kitchen scraps including meat and egg shells, go in the pile. The pile is filled, and then sits for a year beyond filling to completely cook. Internal temps reach 140-160*F, killing pathogens. Only stuff that doesn't go in is metal, plastic, wood, dirt. Even feminine products with no plastic strips, can go in. There are videos online about, but Im wondering if anyone here has experience with. Sca
I'm not too well versed in them but I have a friend who lives in a tiny house that uses a composting toilet with good success, apparently. I've also been to a rest stop possibly in New Hampshire (?) that had composting toilets. At the time I had absolutely no idea what they were, and this was back in 2017.
540 gallon into a properly functioning septic system over 3 months is nothing...some people run that much in a day when you factor in all household water use. As for a big city system dumping toxic waste in the river...I work for one and I can assure you that just doesn't happen in the US anymore...the EPA is all over that stuff! The water that we discharge to the creek is cleaner than the creek water...no chit! Sorry, not much help with composting though...
Not sure I would want to eat veggies fertilized with my own poop and the wifey's hygiene products!! I am not judging, it is just not for me!
At our mountaintop cabin we use sawdust and a 55 gallon drum. When the drum is 2/3 full we take it into the woods and dump it in a pile. Rake leaves over top and do some teepee style sticks to mark the spot. A year later, the human waste has decomposed but the sawdust is still there.
I agree on the public sewer discharge as long as the plant doesn't get flooded. We operated a private system that discharged directly into Pine Creek just up stream from the PA Grand Canyon. 2 aerobic digester tanks, a sand filter bed and a chlorinating tank. Environmental officers claimed the water was safe to drink and far cleaner than Pine Creek.
X2. I understand the composting process and all that but I think the news out of North Korea a couple years back put the kibosh on that for me. All that stuff about “night soil” giving people tapeworms...
