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Toilet Composting Article
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Flush Down Your Waste With A Composting Toilet
from:You may have heard of the importance of composting your household waste, but have did you ever think that some are taking it a step further by using a composting toilet? This may be newer thinking for some countries but many areas use this as a regular practice and it may find its way to your home.
What Is This All About?
What is a composting toilet? Well, it would be any system that can convert human waste into organic compost that would be usable in soil. This occurs through a natural breakdown of organic matter into its essential minerals. Micro-organisms and macro-organisms do this over time through various stages of oxidation and localized pockets of aerobic breakdown.
Can This Be A Safe?
Even human waste can break down to compost, eventually, but is it safe to use a composting toilet? Well here are some concerns that may require further study:
• Coming into contact with human waste that has not been composted properly or is composted incompletely may be dangerous. Bacteria other disease carrying pathogens may be present.
• Human fertilizer should not be used for food crops, but may be okay around non fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. This fertilizer should only be used when it is completely composted. However, there are different schools of thought on how much time is truly needed.
• While composting, human waste can reach temperatures of 104-122 degrees Fahrenheit (40-50c). In some situations, the compost will need to be pasteurized and sterilized before use.
A few other interesting facts to examine are:
• Why many developed countries would not be comfortable with the this idea because of some of the concerns, it is a known fact that when the process is done correctly, then it does not pose any more risk then the waste removal systems already in place. Education would be the most effective way to convince people of the benefits of a composting toilet.
• Many areas may not allow a composting toilet without a septic field. The gray water would still need a place to be treated, however many reputable manufacturers of composting toilets would be able to help navigate the regulation concerns.
• A properly designed composting toilet system that does not require water would completely reduce the waste to a mere 1-2%, in about 4-6 years; with a variety of processes involving bacteria, fungi, worms, and other micro and macro-organisms.
• The amount of electricity needed may outweigh the benefits of a composting toilet. However, if a community is in an arid climate then water conservation would be the main concern while a community that has limited electricity capabilities may not think that a composting toilet would be a good idea.
A compost toilet system is not a new idea. Historically there are designs from the 1800's. There has always been a need to find a proper way to dispose of human waste and maybe the technology of a composting toilet is not a bad idea.
Toilet Composting Specific links
Toilet Composting News
Composting toilets an option for boaters - Victoria Times Colonist
Composting toilets an option for boaters Victoria Times Colonist By Richard Brunt, Times Colonist May 20, 2012 Overlooked in the discussion around sewage from pleasure boaters is a simple, low-cost and environmentally friendly solution - marine composting toilets. These have long been approved by the US coast guard. |
3 Composting Toilets for Green Building and LEED - Green-Buildings.com
3 Composting Toilets for Green Building and LEED Green-Buildings.com Composting toilets are dry toilets that use little or no water to process waste. Instead, the waste is mixed with substances such as peat moss or sawdust to absorb liquids, promote aerobic digestion, and reduce odor. The following 3 composting toilets ... |
Pine Knot looks to increase public role - The Daily Progress
Pine Knot looks to increase public role The Daily Progress Pine Knot, the former retreat of President Theodore Roosevelt, is seeking special permission from Albemarle County to establish a small educational building and to install a composting toilet on its 90-acre grounds. Plans also include monthly events ... |
Royal Engineers install composting toilet at Holy Trinity School in Weymouth - Dorset Echo
Royal Engineers install composting toilet at Holy Trinity School in Weymouth Dorset Echo ROYAL Engineers braved wind and rain on a composting mission to give a Weymouth school an eco-friendly flush. A group of 15 soldiers visited Holy Trinity School in Cross Road to install a composting toilet in the school garden. |
'Ick Factor' Fouls Toilet-to-Tap Sewage Water Recycling - BusinessWeek
'Ick Factor' Fouls Toilet-to-Tap Sewage Water Recycling BusinessWeek Ideally we'd all have self-contained composting toilets in our apartments, but that's not going to happen. It could be simple things like not flushing as much. If everybody flushed a few times a day less that could have a real impact. |