Composting Latrine

Ryan Entwistle (MA student, John Brown U.) describes this latrine that he helped build. Since our garden and well are located some distance from the house and shop we decided to build a simple composting latrine that would also demonstrate the safe disposal and use of human waste. Excrement is contained in a 5-gallon plastic pail in which a scoop or two of a mix of ashes, dirt and leaves is placed after each use to reduce odors and hasten the composting process. A simple urinal made from a 1-gallon plastic milk jug allows urine collection in a separate plastic container (sealed oil drain pan from Walmart). Urine will be fermented and added to the water tanks supplying the drip irrigation system for the garden, acting as a natural nitrogen fertilizer. The vent pipe is painted flat black to absorb solar radiation and create a rising thermal air column inside to remove odors. A screened 'Tee' at the top of the pipe prevents rain from entering and insects from leaving.

We desired a latrine that would be an attractive, safe, comfortable, and odor-free facility that would also allow us to recycle some of our waste for productive purposes. We'll monitor it over the next few months to see if we accomplished our goals.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• composting
• latrine
• sanitation
• outhouse
• AT
• appropriate
• technology
• letrina
• urine
• collection
• waste
• recycling

[Nanaknows60]

Never use human or meat-eating animal's feces for compost!

Only plant eaters like horses, cows, rabbits, chicken manure is safe for gardens and it has to be old or cool.

[approtechie]

@Nanaknows60 When properly composted it's safe. Millions of people use it on their crops and have for thousands of years. However, I agree that if one has a choice it's preferable not to use it on gardens, since the "properly composted" part can be problematic.

[Cstrife234]

You should be harvesting the methane.

[approtechie]

@Cstrife234 Yes, ideally one would digest the waste in a biogas unit and use the gas for something. However, for just rare use there is not the volume of waste needed to keep a digester functioning. Thus, we're left with the composting option.

[frankie2234]

very nice work

[Nanaknows60]

I know that there are sewage treatment plants to deal with human excrement. But I am talking about human waste not being used in food gardens. People in third world countries suffer from all sorts of diseases passed through water ways.

[1776SonofLiberty]

great job. thanks for sharing

[justicerobbie67]

nice  outhouse.