permaculture

[Robyn Francis <erda@nor.com.au>]

I've had a composting urinal operating for the past 8 years using a medium
sized garbage bin 2/3rds filled with sawdust or wood shavings which gets
emptied onto a dedicated compost heap. The compost heap had a deep bed of
dry straw down before the first urinal was emptied. To reduce odours we
rinse out the bin after its been emptied and broadcast ag lime around the
sides and base of the container before refilling it with fresh dry
shavings/sawdust. (Can also use wood ash instead of lime) Makes great
compost. BTW most women can comfortably squat over the medium-sized bin
without requiring a seat, the main issue is with use of toilet paper to dry
the drips.

Robyn

On 30/11/05 7:00 AM, "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net> wrote:

> Toby Hemenway wrote:
> 
>> A much better technique is to fill a 5-gallon bucket with loose straw (or
>> better, wood shavings since they are much more absorbent, splash less, and
>> often cheaper than straw) and put a removable toilet seat on it. This setup
>> doesn't smell until it's full, and guys can just set the seat aside before
>> use (or smart women will remove the seat after use). I would think handling
>> a bulky, really heavy, urine-soaked straw bale would be very unpleasant,
>> unless you are just planning on leaving it to compost in place. The bucket
>> can be emptied easily where ever you need the nitrogen.
> 
> Take a 5 gallon bucket and drill a group of small holes in the bottom. Fill
> the bucket with
> dry partially aged hay or straw or weeds. Affix the bucket on top of one or
> more bales.
> Use toilet seat on bucket when needed.
> 
> Take 4 bales and stack two together with two crosswise on top (or just 2 
> bales
> total).
> Put them in a ditch or trench or hole in the ground so that bucket placed on
> them will sit
> conveniently at ground level. Maybe build a 2X4 frame to stabilize the 
> bucket
> and keep it from toppling.
> Frame and bucket can be cleaned and reused. 2 bales might accomodate two
> buckets. Stacking them 2 high would be better
> for longet term use to keep smell down. Leaching through bucket into hay 
> bales
> and then into the ground
> would keep things relatively sanitary and odor-free.
> 
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