Hi! We've just bought 37 acres and a wonderful 4 bdrm colonial (needs lots of work, but that's part of the fun), and we plan to make the move in the late spring. We'd like to put in composting toilets, or a central composting system, but we're concerned that most of the units we've seen say that they are only for 4 or 5 people's regular use. We're working on generating a large family, and while this isn't a problem now, we don't want to have to replace the system just because our family is growing. Any suggestions? Can we just empty it more often? Also, we have bathrooms on 2 floors (one is currently unusable - does anyone run more than one toilet into a composting system, and from more than one floor? Is there anything we should know about this? Are you generally happy with your composting systems and their odor control?

Thanks loads,

-- Sharon (astyk@brandeis.edu), April 04, 2001

Answers

You can start with a simple outhouse if you don't have zoning to prohibit it. Set it up with your best view and it will be a pleasure to use! The Humanure Handbook is a great source of information. There's a small section in the Readers Digest Back To Basics book and a section in one of Gene Logsdon's earlier books (can't remember the exact title, "country skills" or something). Good luck. We'll never go back to a flush toilet!!!

-- David C (fleece@eritter.net), April 05, 2001.

Sharon, We built a large (8'w x 8'l x 6'd) composting toilet from the basic designs (clivus multrum) contained in "Goodbye to the Flush Toilet". It has served our family well (up to 7 members) for the last 16 years. Had to clean it out and do maintenance after 13 years, but still think that it is a great way to go. Be really careful with the vent pipe. If you aren't, you will get an infestation of fruit flies which are almost impossible to get rid of without killing the composting bacteria.

-- John James (jjames@n-jcenter.com), April 08, 2001.

Sharon, I don't know if this would help, but we just built a sawdust toilet (very cheap, plans on the web) out of necessity (the back porch collapsed into the basement and took the drain line with it -- and there is too much snow on top of the whole mess to get at the drain line for a few more days) and it seems to work great. If it wasn't for having a mortgage we wouldn't go back to the flush toilet (bankers tend to frown on alternative systems).

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 08, 2001.