Grad student looking for info about compostable toilets

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by tcchamberlin10, Nov 9, 2016.


  1. Hi everybody,
    I'm a graduate student from CA studying Environmental Policy. I was wondering if any of you have experience with and would be willing to give your input on compostable toilets in the off-grid setting. My research is looking at the reduction in environmental impact by using these toilets instead of say using a septic tank. This can be a quick interview by phone or skype, or I can send you a couple of questions by email. Any info that you can provide would be much appreciated.

    Thank you!
    Thomas Chamberlin
     
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  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Tom, you are casting a pretty wide net. Take the time to poke thru the forum and see if you can find anyone using a composting twa-lay and contact them via PM. I ain't so sure you mean compostable toilet --

    See what this dredges up on Google - search for "compostable toilet" (Tossing one on the compost heap won't likely do much.)

    My additional advice would be to get off the policy studies track, and into the hardware and science first. Understanding the science enables sound policy, not vice versa.
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2016
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  3. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    Probably a project best run past the site owner (melbo) or an admin. Folks take their OPSEC seriously here, and are generally leery of phishing.
     
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  4. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Chelly's point is well taken. However, your OPSEC is yours to look out for. Be guided accordingly.
     
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  5. Seepalaces

    Seepalaces Monkey+++

    I might mention that compostable toilets are pretty normal on some of the Hawaiian islands. You might focus some of your research time on looking at the policies around them.
     
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  6. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    Agreed, ghrit. Just pointing out that the prepper cohort is likely to be a little "different" from other composting toilet users. All part of the diverse user environment. Oh, and Tom, preppers / self sufficiency folk also tend to be leery of HOA's and overreaching local government. ;)
     
  7. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    There are areas in eastern Oregon that mandate waterless toilets. There are any number of composting toilets in service along the highway rest stops. At least there was 20 years ago. Tom, here's your chance for a field survey, all it costs is gas money (and time, of which you are going to have plenty if you insist on studying policy instead of hardware. Yes, I look down on knowledge-less thought.)
     
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  8. duane

    duane Monkey+++

    Years ago I was interested in them and found the best information available on then was from Norway, Finland, etc where either water pollution on small islands, rock or permafrost, high water table, or social factors made septic systems unusable. They had developed several different systems, saw dust, composting, incineration, or dehydration to make a small system that would handle human waste. None of them tried to handle grey water. Most of the highway etc systems are more akin to a portapottie and just use a chemical to keep the odor down and prevent flies until it can be processed off site.
     
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  9. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    @tcchamberlin10

    Just a minor quibble, that may save you just a little grief, if not embarrasment with your academic supervisor.....you may wish to change the wording of your thread title from "compostable", to composting. Compostable toilet, infers that the toilet is the item that is being composted, rather than what it does with its contents. ;)
     
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  10. DKR

    DKR Raconteur of the first stripe

    I can readily see that the OP are a real college student.

    Best of luck TC/ When I attended college, I did my own homework.....
     
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  11. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    i must be gettting sin -ical but... aren't there 100's of sites on composting toilets?
     
  12. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Yes, sure are, at least hundreds. But there are NONE on compostABLE toilets, as I hinted and Chelly made clear. I fear our boy, who has not returned since his first post, was looking for someone to send him a revealing private message. I have to echo Chelly's thinking, if our boy took a proposal worded that way to his faculty adviser, it's an odds on bet he'd get sent back to re-write the proposal. I have a small bit of pocket change that says he ain't comin' back.
     
  13. Gator 45/70

    Gator 45/70 Monkey+++

    I have crapped on the ground and covered it with a spade, Does that qualify as a composite toilet?
     
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  14. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    Well, depending on the nature of the soil and climate, the crap would compost sooner or later. However, it would certainly not be a comestible toilet. ;)
     
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  15. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    Thanks for sharing. .... I know no one else has had that pleasure. :ROFLMAO:[touchdown][lolol]
     
  16. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    ALL of the Wildlife, around here, "Crap on the Ground" and I have yet to see any of them use a shovel....
     
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  17. OldDude49

    OldDude49 Just n old guy

    GASP! how uncivilized of them! :D
     
  18. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Even "Civilized" Animals Crap, on the Ground...[ROFL]
     
  19. chelloveck

    chelloveck Diabolus Causidicus

    I have only a single hypothesis, concerning the OP member monkey......the derivation of his alias.

     
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