The Humanure Handbook – A Simple Sawdust Toilet
In an emergency situation one simple thing can turn into a real mess… yes I’m talking about poo. What to do with the poo? Someone recently commented on one of my tiny house blogs that using a sawdust toilet might be the ideal solution for many people in many situations. It seems like the perfect solution for an emergency situation.
In fact you can download an ebook on the topic free written by Joseph Jenkins. I won’t go into too much more detail but it’s basically a simple way to compost human waste. The toilet it a toilet lid covered bucket filled with sawdust and the waste is periodically taken out to a compost pile. I know that sounds pretty gross but it sounds a whole lot better than backed up sewer systems. Check it out… The Humanure Handbook
[...] would need to be provided by jugs of water, batteries, generator, solar panels, camping toilet (or sawdust toilet), and 5 gallon buckets (for grey water). More elaborate living accomodations could be created in [...]
I agree, in an emergency situation, a Loveable Loo would be an ideal solution. For everyday living… I’m not sure that many people would accept it. However, for day to day living, there are some really nice composting toilet solutions on the market–high tech and 100% odorless–that will fit quite well into even an upscale residential bathroom setting.
i have read your book with great interest. a sawdust toilet would be a great improvement in winter or the middle of the night to using our outhouse. we have a very limited water supply. i wonder if lining the bucket with damp newspaper would eliminate having to scrub the bucket. i am a little afraid of the freezing weather and snow and my compost pile. in fact my compost pile doesn’t exist because i throw any vegetable waste out the back door and in the morning it is completely gone. i am not sure who all consume it but it is always gone. my graywater drain goes down a gentle slope to my garden area. i could definately incorperate your methods there but the little water i use might evaperate before it makes it to the garden. but i would like to try a gravel bed. i wish communities would realize how much they could save by composting. thank you for your study and research and expermintation that paves the way for us more timid souls. i would be afraid to venture such without the facts. shirley