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Composting Toilets

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One of my composting loos in Turkey.
I’ve had all sorts of reactions to my toilet. Some blink and turn away, others glance furtively at it the way you might glance at a road accident before you catch yourself. Children in particular show a disturbed fascination in what lies beyond 'the hole'. (If you want to know the answer to that question, scroll to the end of the page). My neighbour Dudu pretends my loo doesn’t exist and switches subjects whenever I mention the word 'compost'. But I’ve no idea why. It’s the cleanest, healthiest, most useful toilet I’ve ever had the fortune to crap in. The composting toilet, or as one friend put it, ‘the human litter-box.’

Hardened ecologists have seen it all before of course. But for those of us who haven’t (and I hadn’t until a couple of years back) it’s an excremental revolution. And it’s so simple to make. I can’t work out why no one else has one, or why I waited so long.

How to Build a Composting Toilet

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All you do is build a large wooden box. If you feel a spurt of carpenter brilliance coming on you can add a door to scoop your compost out from. Put the box on a spot of dryish land. Then simply defecate to your heart’s content. You don’t need any water (in fact avoid using water, it will turn your compost fetid). What you do need is heaps and heaps of sawdust, coconut coir or some other fine organic matter that will create compost for you.

When the box is full (it took me 7 months to fill mine) you close it and let it percolate. It really depends on your climate as to how long you leave it. A hot dry Mediterranean summer takes care of it in about four months, but usually between six months and a year is recommended. In that time the pathogens in the poo are neutralised and a fantastic compost is created. Finally, once your manure has reached maturation, take a shovel and throw it on your courgette plants.

5 Principles for Composting Toilets

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Woodshavings make ideal aggregate for composting toilets.
There are five composting principles you should take into consideration if you want your toilet to function safely and effectively;

1.Separate it. Make sure your toilet is isolated from your living quarters and kitchen, for obvious reasons.

2. Air it. Composting toilets need ventilation to dry out, so don’t cover it in plastic. Let it breathe.

3. Heat. Compost prefers a warm climate. The higher the temperature the faster your dump degrades.

4. Dryness. The toilet needs to stay as dry as possible. Urine is fine, but don’t throw extra water in it.

5. Composting material. You need something to mix into your crap to create compost; Sawdust, wood shavings, coconut coir etc. I used leaves at one point.
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Things you didn't know about composting toilets

1. They don't smell. In fact they are far less smelly than your average flush toilet, particularly when lots of people are using them.

2. They are clean. Instead of your waste rotting in a fetid septic tank, or having to be treated in large scale sewage works, your poo is effortlessly neutralised.

3. They can be pretty. I think mine's pretty at least.

4. They take a long time to fill up. The reason you need two toilets is not because they fill up, but to give the your waste time to break down.

5. You don't actually have to look at rotting poo all the time. Don't believe me? OK. Here's the moment you've been waiting for. What lies beyond the dreaded hole?
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Tidy huh? Not a turd in sight:)

This article is just one of over 70 how-to and information posts available in The Mud Home Building PDF Package which is updated every six months.

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Stacks of how-to, and hundreds of photos, all compiled into 6 user-friendly PDFs. Off-grid living, Natural Building, and Earthbag Building. Once you've purchased them, you have lifetime access to the updates for FREE!
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Disclaimer: All the content in The Mud Home website is provided for informational purposes only. The author undertakes no responsibility for any person or entity who chooses to use the information on this website. It is not intended to be a standard and should not substitute for the exercise of good engineering judgment by engineers. It is the user’s obligation to make sure that he/she uses the appropriate practices and consults the appropriate experts when building. It is the user's obligation to make sure they are following health and safety guidelines. The author is not responsible for any accidents, injuries or damages to persons or property incurred while using the information presented in this website.

Some blog articles refer to the use of lime. Please note, lime is caustic and can cause burns. Read The Mud Home guide to using lime safely here.

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The Mud Home  Copyright © 2013  Atulya Kerry Bingham
  • Home
  • Building
    • Earthbag
    • Earthquakes and earthbag
    • Rubble Trench Foundations
    • Off-grid how to >
      • Off-Grid Prep Course
    • Earth Plaster
    • Lime Wash
    • Mud as Mortar
    • Wattle and Daub
    • Mud Building Blog
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    • Dirt Witch
    • Mud Ball
    • Mud Mountain The Book
    • An Earthbag House in 7 Days?
  • About
    • Contact
  • Learn Mud
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