[Greenbuilding] Composting toilets

[CALYPSO]

I live in Mexico. We use the human manure system - quite simply an 
invalid toilet stand with a 6 gallon bucket rather than the little pail 
that they come with. We have used both sawdust (from natural wood - no 
plywood etc.) or leaves and decaying ground cover. The ground cover 
works better than the sawdust. We have a fairly attractive 2 -holer in a 
separate building of brick - read a brick $hit house. But I prefer the 
bucket to the long drop of the two holer as well as the fact the smaller 
system uses less cover material. We simply dump the bucket (about once a 
week) into one of the two holer locations - we have two casas here in 
Mexico and use this system for both - it really works well.

A side note is because in most of our area of Mexico they dump their raw 
sewage into the closest rio they DO NOT throw in toilet paper. So they 
have a small trash can where one deposits their used toilet paper (even 
in public place like restaurants). I prefer the compost bucket to this 
arrangement. Also here most often toilets do not come with seats - just 
the porcelain edge. I know some gringos that go places with their own 
toilet seat so they don't have to bare butt it on porcelain.

I highly recommend the Jenkin's methods. I like the book although his 
idea of bathroom humor is a little pedestrian - the rest is right on.

Regards,
Juan Calypso in Xico, Veracruz
http://vivaveracruz.com/blog/
http://www.vivaveracruz.com/forum/


Jessica Woolliams wrote:
> I'd love to see pictures of interesting toilets. Here are some in my blog:
> (scroll to the bottom):
> <http://www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com/blog/jessica_woolliams_6>
>
> Add yours here: <http://www.flickr.com/groups/sustainablebuilding/>
>
> On 12/19/06 1:59 PM, "Lawrence Lile" <LLile at projsolco.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Here is a copy of Corwyn's email about them.
>>
>>  I looked at the Humanure book online, and it has some very good plans.
>>
>>
>> I've seen elaborate systems, and simple systems, and for my money, the
>> simple ones always seem to work very well.  My old composter was a 50
>> gallon drum with a toilet seat on top.  Add a coffee can of sawdust for
>> every use, and wheel it out behind the barn when it is 2/3 full.  A year
>> in the sun, and it goes on the orchard.
>>
>> I Think Jenkins' system is a lot more attractive, and easier to carry.
>> Unless you live in an apartment downtown, I think everyone should have a
>> composter. (Some municipalities might not agree with me.)
>>  
>> Lawrence Lile, P.E., LEED AP
>>
>> On Dec 19, 2006, at 11:22, Lawrence Lile wrote:
>>
>>     
>>> "Composting Toilet: $50 (plus 6 hours of my labor, however you want to
>>>       
>>> charge that)."
>>>
>>> What sort of composting toilet did you build for $50?
>>>
>>> I'm planning to build one, right now the plan is the old 50 gallon
>>> drum with a toilet seat bolted on top, that I've built several dozen
>>>       
>> of.
>>     
>>
>