Although
most of the world's humanure is quickly flushed down
a drain, or discarded into the environment as a pollutant,
it could instead be converted, through composting, into
lush vegetative growth, and used to feed humanity.
It is best located indoors. Sawdust (or other suitable cover
material) covers the contents of the toilet, thereby eliminating
odors, adding carbon, and absorbing lIquids.
Both seats up allow for a male urinal.
The toilet container should be easily removable.
The toilet contents are taken to a compost bin when full.
A four-container system should require emptying about
once a week for a family of four when each container has a five gallon or 20 liter capacity. When the containers
are full, they're set aside (with lids) in the toilet room or other suitable location until at least two
need emptying, then they're carried to a compost bin
and emptied.
Below is an inexpensive
and easy-to-build three-chambered compost bin made from pallets. The straw bale can act as a temporary fourth wall for the active bin.
ALL organic materials
(food scraps, fats, oils, meat, HUMANURE, grass clippings,
garden weeds, etc.) go into the pile and are thoroughly
covered with a clean cover material (in this case, straw
and rotted leaves).
More elaborate compost bins can be built, such as the author's "Humanure
Hacienda" (above
and below) with a roof over the center bin to keep the
excess cover material dry and to collect rain water.
VIDEO: Introduction to the Humanure Hacienda:
Note water collection system above (rain barrel) which allows for
convenient cleaning of the compost receptacle after emptying.
The toilet receptacle is emptied
into the compost bin.
Note that a depression has been
dug into the top center of the bin contents with a pitchfork prior to emptying
the receptacle. This prevents splash-back and runoff and
makes it easier to keep
the fresh material localized in the hot area of the compost pile.
VIDEO: An active compost bin:
VIDEO: Emptying toilet receptacles:
The fresh compost material has now been completely covered, in this case with weeds
from the author's garden. Much of the cover material was simply raked back over the
fresh deposit after the depression was dug and the material
dumped into the bin. A compost thermometer is kept in the
pile to monitor it's microbial activity.
The receptacle is rinsed, scrubbed with a long handled toilet brush and a little dish soap,
then the wash water is poured onto the compost pile. One gallon will wash two five-gallon receptacles.
Twenty-eight
years of humanure compost has kept the soil fertile without
the need for additional fertilizers, other than chicken
manure from a flock of about 10 chickens.
The above photos, taken in 2007 after 28 years of humanure compost, are of the author's garden. If you are a humanure composter
and want to share your garden photos and humanure composting
experiences with us, please visit our message
board.
