Click on QR Code to read the Humanure Handbook for free. It will download the Table of Contents, which will be linked to the individual chapter PDF downloads.
Or just click here to read the Humanure Handbook 4th edition for free (PDF).
Compost toilets can provide a sanitation solution when water or electricity are not available, or when you simply want to make more compost or less environmental pollution.
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 materials are taken to a compost site. A four-receptacle 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. They should never be allowed to freeze.
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, toilet material, 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.
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.
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.
Thirty seven
years of humanure compost has kept the soil fertile without
the need for additional fertilizers, other than chicken
manure from a flock of about 6 chickens. Photo taken in 2016:
