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If it weren't for Dr.
Oz and Oprah, talking openly about one's poop would probably turn more heads
than anything else. And while that may still be the case with many people, the
fact of the matter is that more people are becoming conscious and comfortable
with poop! And with a growing surge in sustainable living taking place, guess
what else people are talking about - Composting toilets.
First off, a composting toilet
is not a pit that you dig when going camping. A modern day composting
toilet is one that belongs inside a bathroom along with a sink and a shower. The
only difference is that a composting toilet is not connected to the water supply
and septic system, thus saving considerable energy and cutting back on sewage
pollution, not to mention serving as a cheap and effective natural fertilizer.
As you might surmise, if a
composting toilet is not connected to the water supply, then where does the poop
go (okay, I'll call it waste for now), and how does it get there? Well,
at some point you (or your children) will have to manually remove the waste when
it becomes a reusable end product fertilizer that can be used in your yard.
Before you jump to any conclusions about this being a "stinky and dirty job"
let's dispel a few myths by explaining the different types of toilet composters
and how they operate.
Some composting toilets are
self-contained systems while others are central units powered by vacuum (and
some electricity) to flush waste into a remote composting unit below the toilet.
While there are do-it-yourself systems out there, many of the "hands-free"
composters offer all the conveniences of a regular toilet with the added
environmental and money saving benefits. Indeed, composting toilets cost from
25-75% less than a regular septic system.
Some composters use heat and
inject air to speed up the aerobic decomposition rate, while others may require
a drum to be turned once in a while. The best modern day composting toilets will
separate urine and feces, thus providing two types of fertilizers. Urine is
actually responsible for providing the bulk of plant nutrients after being
broken down into an odorless liquid fertilizer. This can take as little as three
months. In Sweden (the original home of composting toilets), authorities allow
composted urine to be used as agricultural fertilizer after six months of
storage time. As for solid waste, this will take 4 to six years to become highly
mineralized soil, which you can bet is some of the best fertilizer on the
planet!
A common misconception
about composting toilets inside the home are that they smell and require
constant emptying. This is far from the truth. Since the original amount of
waste typically decomposes to 10% its original volume (after 5 years, only 1-2%
remains), there is less emptying than you might think. In fact, a full sized
composting toilet could go without emptying for several decades. Smaller models
may require emptying multiple times in a year. It's not every day and week,
however. Regarding smell, composting toilets use positive section to keep odors
in the unit. Some units even come equipped with exhaust fans using minimal
electricity. In fact, if used properly, composting toilets should be less
odorous than regular toilets!
One last thing worth mentioning
about composting toilets is their place with governmental health authorities. In
some countries, the issue is greyer than the grey water itself. In Sweden and
Canada, for example, composting toilets are generally accepted. In other
countries, where sewage is not available, most health authorities will approve
systems that use proper decontamination procedures. If sewage is available, the
use of composting toilets is generally prohibited. However, amidst the growing
green movement, this is being widely challenged and more people are using
composting toilets to go green without anybody having to know about it.
If you want to see some really
great composting toilets, check out
Gaiam and use their search tool to view some of
the best Swedish made composting toilets out there.
Author: Ry
HOLISTIC HEALTH TIPS
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