Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The City of Austin has been making and selling Dillo Dirt fertilizer from human waste for a long time now. It is, however, made from treated sewage (one wonders how they treat it - must research that). They say it's fine for vegetable gardens - I'd be more concerned about the "treatment" part than the "human" part, myself.
Considering all the stuff now in our water supplies because of drugs, etc., that people are using, that's still in treated sewage, I'd be very cautious using the stuff. It's one thing if it's from your immediate household, entirely another when it's everyone's in a city mixed together.
I know that people are discouraged from using waste from carnivores because of the bacteria it has. I would think that it would be the same for humans. I don't think you want to mix what you eat with what your body just got rid of.
I have a rural farm in WV, and it has a composting commode. The waste goes to a collection area where it is continually agitated over an electric heater plate. The result is essentially dust. I usually clean it once every 6 months by mixing the waste with peet moss, and burying in the woods.
I will use the system until my new house is built and a regular septic system is installed. For now, it works fine.
Mark
!!!!!!! That's great! I've never heard of such a thing. I think i found my new home in the green living section of this forum.
!!!!!!! That's great! I've never heard of such a thing. I think i found my new home in the green living section of this forum.
Anyway to add a methane extractor?
*post added to favorites.
I don't think it'd be too hard to add, but I'm not sure if the financial benefit is there. Our composting commode works fine. I empty it about every 6 months; I just mix the mostly dry waste with peat moss and bury it in the woods. Aside from that, it's flush and forget.
I read the humanure Handbook a few months ago, but I haven't worked up the courage to implement a composting toilet yet, even though it makes perfect sense to.
I have experimented with bio gas using cat poop. The waste is converted to compost and free gas is liberated for cooking. The result is safe compost as the anerobic digestion kills the nasties as far as I know.
We thought about using one till we got our bathroom and septic system added but we opted for a good old fashioned outhouse which we used for 18 months. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
One of the biggest problems with the composting toilets is getting your local health dept to let you use it.
We have a lot of "off grid" properties in our area and some areas where septic systems cannot be installed, but from what I understand the county here has said no to composting toilets, go figure the logic, since I live in a drought state, they would rather we flush all of our water.
One of the biggest problems with the composting toilets is getting your local health dept to let you use it.
We have a lot of "off grid" properties in our area and some areas where septic systems cannot be installed, but from what I understand the county here has said no to composting toilets, go figure the logic, since I live in a drought state, they would rather we flush all of our water.
Who's asking the local government for permission???
My commode is internal to my house. The resultant product looks just like dry peat moss. I take it out to the woods and dump it. It blows aways immediately; no pile or mess. Make sure the wind is at your back!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
