Wikipedia: Composting Toilet

Definition. A composting toilet can be defined as "a system that provides an environment within a container for predominantly aerobic decomposition and stabilization of refuse.

2 types
o in situ
o bucket and chuck it

Soak material such as straw, sawdust, and dry grass are added to...
o absorb excess liquid
o cover waste materials
o exclude flied
o reduce smells
o balance carbon to nitrogen ratios

The article mentions separating human waste from other kitchen scraps and garden waste. Why? As mentioned in the Humanure Handbook (Joseph Jenkins), all organics will decompose.

Conventional toilets consume large quantities of clean, drinking water (I think it was like 400 gallons per week per person)

In Situ: Drawbacks. technological curve, spacial requirements, some require an accelerant such as gas, some require electricity (pollution), stirring or rotating. Benefits. utilization is similar to hydraulic systems (no social adaptation), minimal water requirements, reduced exposure of refuse to the environment.

Bucket and Chuck It: Drawbacks. social stigma of handling shit, transport bucket to external compost pile, requires a secondary compost pile. Benefits. Compost pile can be used with all household organics (estimated 80-90 percent of garbage that otherwise goes into the dump sites), gas and electricity not required (for the decomposition process), thermophilic decomposition means fossil fuel accelerant not necessary

After 5 years, only 1-2 percent of the original volume remains. It is then a mineralized soil and will decompose no further.

Yields furtilizer that is, after the legally required period of time, able to be used in horticulture and agriculture.

Change compost bins annually or bi-annually for adequate aging of the compost to eliminate all hazardous bacteria and fungi.

Mesophilic composting (pathogens destroyed over time) vs. thermophilic composting (pathogens destroyed by heat).

NSF and Standard 41?

How many western, technological countries are doing this?

Waterless, odorless composting toilets facilitate homes remaining occuppied in draught areas.

Odors can be controlled by...
o keeping urine and feces separate (kind of defeats the purpose. urine is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous. Feces is a carbon item. balance, not separation)
o adding high carbon soak materials
o materials must remain aerated to prevent anaerobic decomposition (ammonia) (some think this means you have to turn it, but a sufficiently coarse stock might allow oxygen to continue to circulate. It's also a consideration in bin design. I've thought about putting 12-18 inches of topsoil in the base of my bin and putting earth worms in. As the compost ages, and temperatures drop, I am thinking the worms would climb the stack, serving to aerate and further eliminate harmful bacteria and fungi.)