[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Compost issues

[Lawrence Lile]

I've lived with compost toilets before, and I was fully prepared for
these kinds of issues.  However, there are those fainter of heart than I
that would say "Raus! Und Nicht Wiedersehen! *" if they had any such
issues.  

I would say that, if you are considering having a compost toilet, you
must be prepared for something of a commitment that an upbringing in a
sterile, porcelain suburban household might not have prepared you for.
Basically, you are gonna have to deal with poop and a very simple
ecology that runs on same.  If that isn't something you are willing to
do, then focus your energy and water conservation efforts elsewhere.  

I believe that a composter is a very simple and effective way to prevent
the pollution of 10,000 gallons of water per year per household, plus
produce some high quality garden fertilizer.  That's worth something to
me.  


Lawrence Lile, PE, LEED AP
Project Solutions Engineering

*Loosely trasnlated as "OUT! Hit the highway!" plus some unintelligible
and unrepeatable phrases.   

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Kat
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 1:29 PM
To: Bob Korves
Cc: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] Compost issues
Importance: Low

Bob Korves wrote:
> We keep our kitchen compost in the refrigerator in a Tupperware
container. 
> When full, out it goes.  No flies or smell.

Hmmmmm

Can't exactly do that with a composting toilet, can ya?  (eeeew!)

So far I've been pretty lucky with just using a half-gallon paper milk 
carton on the side of the sink.  I keep the top folded shut.  I just 
started composting kitchen waste, though, and haven't been through a hot

summer yet.

Thanks for bringing this issue up, Lawrence - one of these years I will 
remodel my bathroom and add enough space  for a composting toilet - and 
knowing about this issue makes me lean ever more heavily toward the 5 
gal bucket variety.

-Kat

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