[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Composting toilets

[Reuben Deumling]

I'm very interested in a urine-separating toilet (a pricey porcelain seat)
which can be connected through the floor to a urine tank at the front and a
bucket at the back. I have been led to believe that keeping things separate
has all sorts of salutary benefits (less smell, urine is a good fertilizer
diluted with water, the composting material in composting toilets can get
too wet, etc.). I'm curious if anyone on this list has personal experience
with these?

I'm also specifically curious how much of an issue smell is with your
composting toilets--of any variety? I get the idea that with a well designed
stack and a tight fitting lid/seat it is fairly easy to reduce this to a
minor inconvenience. I'm not personally offended by the smell of an
outhouse. But I live in a city on 1/12 of an acre with all sorts of finicky
visitors and relatives. Turning folks off to the whole idea by confirming
their misconceptions about the undesirability of such alternatives is not my
goal. If you can speak to how you've dealt with this I'd be grateful.

I have to admit that the cost and simplicity of your $15-$50 versions are
tempting.

Reuben Deumling

On 12/19/06, Norbert Senf <mheat at mha-net.org> wrote:

> It has worked quite well for 25 years now (2 person household), with a
> small but definite learning curve, on the same order as learning to make
> compost.
>