Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:43:32 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22136#Comment_22136 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22136#Comment_22136 Wed, 28 May 2008 20:13:24 +0100 ThriftyYorkshirelass https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22232#Comment_22232 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22232#Comment_22232 Thu, 29 May 2008 16:21:57 +0100 mrswhitecat https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22237#Comment_22237 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22237#Comment_22237 Thu, 29 May 2008 17:16:22 +0100 agu https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22248#Comment_22248 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22248#Comment_22248 Thu, 29 May 2008 18:05:10 +0100 joe.e Posted By: mrswhitecatI don't think I could ever bring myself to use the stuff on the veg plot - but I wondered what the view is on using the 'end product' of compost bogs?
My mother out-law (we're not married) has a toilet that consists of a bucket ander a toilet seat, with a big tub of grass to throw handfuls of on afterwards. When the bucket is full, it goes on a compost heap, mixed in with lots of other organic matter, then when it's all rotted down (a year or two) it goes on the veg plot. The finished compost is no different to any other compost; actually, after a week or two outdoors and mixed in with the other organic waste - grass clippings, prunings, veg waste etc., the 'human waste' has lost all offensiveness. The outhouse has no smells because it has no door and a fine view of the mountains. All seems to work fine, although washing out the bucket wouldn't be to everyone's taste. But the stark simplicity and lack of waste is pleasing.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22306#Comment_22306 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22306#Comment_22306 Fri, 30 May 2008 13:21:43 +0100 ThriftyYorkshirelass
I once saw a prog on the system they use at CAT and i was very impressed.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22359#Comment_22359 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22359#Comment_22359 Fri, 30 May 2008 23:22:58 +0100 ludite
I think the smell of it might come down to what people eat. Vegetarians who don't drink alcohol and caffine, might produce a more 'fragrant' deposit than meat eating raving alcoholics. . . . .but it is true about asparagus!

Thriftyyorkshirelass - what method do you use to separate things?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22365#Comment_22365 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22365#Comment_22365 Sat, 31 May 2008 08:42:20 +0100 joe.e The father out-law, who lives in an adjacent house, has a much more civilized system with a flushing loo and a surprisingly small reed-bed - very effective, no trouble at all, and nice for the frogs (and therefore the herons).]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22376#Comment_22376 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22376#Comment_22376 Sat, 31 May 2008 10:14:21 +0100 ThriftyYorkshirelass
Our compost bog has 2 chambers, it is a very robust construction. We dont have to empty buckets . Both chambers are underneath a large surface which we step onto and because of the nature of our bodies (basic stuff this) usually peeing after a poo we have in place for the males - because of their body design in such matters, a seperate run off which goes into a bucket at the front, for females i invented something very simple - namely a 2lt plastic bottle that has a cut out bit at one end which does the job, pee can be emptied on a compost heap.

Our compost bog is in an enclosed hut with roof, door etc and huge window at the front, big shelf at the back with magazines and plants , the chambers are enclosed, nothing can leak out, there is an air vent on both chambers covered with very fine fine mesh like material. It is situated under tress and is quite a peaceful spot with a stream nearby and birds singing.

I find that the poo that pongs the most is from beer gluggers, meat , eggs and a junk food diet, vegan diets seem to be the least offensive. I remember Mae West commenting in her book once about a healthy digestive system should produce poo smelling of a veg stew (or words to that effect) This last bit could cause controversy!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22379#Comment_22379 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22379#Comment_22379 Sat, 31 May 2008 11:25:18 +0100 joe.e Posted By: ThriftyYorkshirelass
Our compost bog is in an enclosed hut with roof, door etc and huge window at the front, big shelf at the back with magazines and plants , the chambers are enclosed, nothing can leak out, there is an air vent on both chambers covered with very fine fine mesh like material. It is situated under tress and is quite a peaceful spot with a stream nearby and birds singing.

I find that the poo that pongs the most is from beer gluggers, meat , eggs and a junk food diet, vegan diets seem to be the least offensive. I remember Mae West commenting in her book once about a healthy digestive system should produce poo smelling of a veg stew (or words to that effect) This last bit could cause controversy!
That sounds very organised and civilized. Not so sure about the smelly poo thing though - my children are both vegetarian teetotallers and sometimes theirs smells fairly bad...]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22445#Comment_22445 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22445#Comment_22445 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:44:42 +0100 ThriftyYorkshirelass
And as for poo, yes, it comes in all poo-eyness of pongs.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22570#Comment_22570 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22570#Comment_22570 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:42:16 +0100 bob
I regularly comment on the compost toilet threads as a part of our business is the design and construction of bespoke urine seperating dry compost toilet systrems, particularly in woodlands.
As far as we are concerned the only way to build a compost bog is to build a dry system with the urine being seperated at point of use, this method results in a more of less odour free loo with good useable compost ( for fruit trees or similar) after around 1 year of maturing. The main factors to include are the urine seperation, a sealable toilet seat and a ventilation pipe/chimney ( to remove any stubborn odours above head height) Also the best bulk to add to the mix following each use seems to almost allways be a handfull of sweet smelling coarse wood shavings. I can also see no negatives to using a compost bog, if it is built correctly they are clean hygenic and pleasant to use, i have been living with one myself for over a year now.
Please feel free to contact me if you need anymore detailed info.
Bob
woodearthstone@hotmail.co.uk]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22629#Comment_22629 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22629#Comment_22629 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:07:54 +0100 ludite https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22695#Comment_22695 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22695#Comment_22695 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:49:11 +0100 mrswhitecat https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22714#Comment_22714 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22714#Comment_22714 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:40:41 +0100 ThriftyYorkshirelass
Its also good to take responsibility for abit more of the waste that one produces]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22721#Comment_22721 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22721#Comment_22721 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:08:35 +0100 ludite https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22726#Comment_22726 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22726#Comment_22726 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:23:44 +0100 ThriftyYorkshirelass https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22762#Comment_22762 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=22762#Comment_22762 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:55:53 +0100 stephendv http://www.separett.com/]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=23068#Comment_23068 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=23068#Comment_23068 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:35:21 +0100 Mick Gareg Lwyd I'm ok about the poo-compost - but what do you do with the separated wee.? i bet thats a bit stinky - do you just pour it onto your compost?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=23072#Comment_23072 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=23072#Comment_23072 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:00:56 +0100 stephendv http://www.separett.eu/default.asp?id=2515]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=23080#Comment_23080 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=23080#Comment_23080 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:46:50 +0100 ThriftyYorkshirelass ]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=23100#Comment_23100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=23100#Comment_23100 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:59:21 +0100 joe.e https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31570#Comment_31570 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31570#Comment_31570 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:01:14 +0100 JackyR
I'm sure you all know this, but because of parasites you shouldn't use human (and some animal) excreta on veggie plots unless you are very, very sure that it has been successfully treated. In the meantime, it must have no chance of being tracked around by animals and birds, and no chance of contaminating a water supply. [Aha, so _that's_ how you edit posts: log in!] Some parasite eggs can also be carried in urine (doubt species like schistosoma would survive in UK, but others might).

Planting trees on old pits: fantastic. Piling dubiously heated poo compost around your green and leafies: not so clever.

Happily, UK water companies are also getting into this game and reselling properly treated human sewage for agriculture. So even us townies get to scatter when someone's ploughed the fields...]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31573#Comment_31573 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31573#Comment_31573 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:18:15 +0100 joe.e https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31578#Comment_31578 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31578#Comment_31578 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:45:36 +0100 JackyR assorted nematodes (hookworm, whipworm, Baylisascaris...)
assorted flukes (liver flukes, schisto...)
giardia
for a start.

I realise several of the above are impervious to heat, so I've removed my earlier comment about home heat-treated compost being OK.

I'm willing to stand corrected, but faecal transmission is for many intestinal parasites the principal (only?) means of transmission - the life cycle relies on it. Mostly this is faeces-to-mouth (often via other surfaces), but Necator americanus and a few others will enter via the skin, typically soles of bare feet.

So spreading inadequately treated human (or other compatible species) faeces, especially on food plants, more especially foods to be eaten raw, is madness. If you're storing faeces at home, bury it deep for trees.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31764#Comment_31764 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31764#Comment_31764 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:01:56 +0100 mrswhitecat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFUqXolS7Co

watch this and you might not even wish to wee on your compost ...]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31770#Comment_31770 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31770#Comment_31770 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:39:13 +0100 Fred56 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31787#Comment_31787 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31787#Comment_31787 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:09:41 +0100 philedge https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31841#Comment_31841 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=31841#Comment_31841 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:26:11 +0100 JackyR
This KEEPS IT UNDERGROUND during the dodgy period, so birds and beasts can't track it around. And prevents you accidentally adding fresh poo to the maturing pit.

I think pit latrines are principally about safe excreta disposal where you don't have (or you want to save) mains water in and mains sewage out. The compost is just a bonus - if you get it right - and a damn nuisance if you don't. If your soil is seriously impoverished and you can't get enough animal manure, then using it on the surface makes sense. But not in the UK.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=42837#Comment_42837 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=42837#Comment_42837 Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:08:52 +0000 quercusrobur http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8XVevov7m4M&feature=channel_page]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=43039#Comment_43039 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=1814&Focus=43039#Comment_43039 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:10:49 +0000 mrswhitecat