Composting toilet: rules, regulations, and "real life" use etc.?

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Delfin

I'm not passing judgment - I tried to make that clear. My only point is that whatever the weight of the package is, 3 to 4 weeks will not convert human feces to something that isn't essentially human feces. And I am sure you aren't suggesting that if you were to test what you say looks like potting soil that you would find it to be absent e coli and other intestinal flora. This study quantifies that, and you will note from the abstract that samples from this study were measured at 6 months of "composting", not a few weeks. But you are totally honest in not suggesting that this approach is better for the environment, but I am sure you can understand why others might have that higher on their list of priorities and wonder whether other approaches aren't more suitable.

No … I’m not suggesting this. And the simple point I’m trying to stress is, NO ONE ELSE IS. Not the manufactures and sellers of these things, and no user that I’m aware of. So I really don’t know who your critique is levelled at.

The only people making these suggestions are people who criticize the idea of these heads. So… I hope you can appreciate my frustration.

[john61ct]

Yes, the presence of e.coli, the faeces of birds and rats are omnipresent in the human built environment.

Might as well be shocked by the presence of human skin detritus in homes.

We (strive to) keep such things out of our food supply, not our waste disposal stream.

Yes infectious and biohazardous waste disposal methods are regulated, mostly at the state level.

But routine faecal matter is not included in that definition.

When city employees are very routinely cleaning up blood and needles used by street addicts, I think such concern about poo is a bit over the top.

But many people were too harshly potty trained as toddlers.

[Delfin]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

No … I’m not suggesting this. And the simple point I’m trying to stress is, NO ONE ELSE IS. Not the manufactures and sellers of these things, and no user that I’m aware of. So I really don’t know who your critique is levelled at.

The only people making these suggestions are people who criticize the idea of these heads. So… I hope you can appreciate my frustration.

If you Google "are composting toilets green" you'll see that at least some folks are suggesting they are an environmentally friendly solution to human waste management, and IMO they can be, depending on what you are comparing them to. Compared to the knucklehead who flushes his toilet overboard in shallow water or in a marina? Definitely better than that. But I'm not sure that jerk isn't likely to use a composting toilet. Compared to random dispersal in deep water? Not so much.

I guess the reason I brought this line of inquiry up is frustration over the fact that when flushing the john overboard in deep water in Puget Sound is forbidden, but using a dumpster for the output of a composting toilet is fine, something is amiss, except in those circumstances, like NewHaul's, where the CT is not only the best option, it is the only reasonable option.

[john61ct]

Yes, political "solutions" are often not rational.

Cities are the worst offenders, really need to clean up their act before pestering individuals.

No-discharge rules can be sheer window-dressing only.

But separating toilets are not really for being green, just another very practical option for dealing with poop.

And nothing wrong with tossing their output (which is not "compost") into the trash.

Note that so-called biodegradable bags only do so when full-time exposed to sunshine. In a landfill they'll still be there centuries later just like regular plastic.

I'm as fanatic a tree-hugger as they come, but useless "for appearances only" measures annoy me, focussing on macro measures that will actually help prevent global disaster are more productive.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Delfin

If you Google "are composting toilets green" you'll see that at least some folks are suggesting they are an environmentally friendly solution to human waste management, and IMO they can be, depending on what you are comparing them to. Compared to the knucklehead who flushes his toilet overboard in shallow water or in a marina? Definitely better than that. But I'm not sure that jerk isn't likely to use a composting toilet. Compared to random dispersal in deep water? Not so much.

I guess the reason I brought this line of inquiry up is frustration over the fact that when flushing the john overboard in deep water in Puget Sound is forbidden, but using a dumpster for the output of a composting toilet is fine, something is amiss, except in those circumstances, like NewHaul's, where the CT is not only the best option, it is the only reasonable option.

OK, I don’t want to belabour the point, but you can find everything and anything via Google. As far as I can recall, I’ve never seen any user of these heads make the claim you are chafing against. The manufacture’s don’t either.

I agree with you; these heads can be more environmentally friendly, but it depends on how the end product is managed. Dumping into the landfill is not a great solution, but I’m certain it makes no measurable difference compared to all the raw feces contributed by diaper users and dog poop.

And I further agree with you that it makes zero sense to restrict overboard dumping in areas of good volume/good flow. In fact, I think dumping offshore is probably the most environmentally friendly way of dealing with our effluent.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Note that so-called biodegradable bags only do so when full-time exposed to sunshine. In a landfill they'll still be there centuries later just like regular plastic.
.

actually not quite true the bags I use dissolve in water ( used them in the navy to wash contaminated clothing from our sewage treatment plants)

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

OK, I don’t want to belabour the point, but you can find everything and anything via Google. As far as I can recall, I’ve never seen any user of these heads make the claim you are chafing against. The manufacture’s don’t either.

I agree with you; these heads can be more environmentally friendly, but it depends on how the end product is managed. Dumping into the landfill is not a great solution, but I’m certain it makes no measurable difference compared to all the raw feces contributed by diaper users and dog poop.

And I further agree with you that it makes zero sense to restrict overboard dumping in areas of good volume/good flow. In fact, I think dumping offshore is probably the most environmentally friendly way of dealing with our effluent.

Mike,

If you switched back to a standard marine head with a holding tank... just think of all the time you’d save by not having to handle waste and argue the merits of composting heads... I mean desicating heads, here on CF.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Mike,

If you switched back to a standard marine head with a holding tank... just think of all the time you’d save by not having to handle waste and argue the merits of composting heads... I mean desicating heads, here on CF.

you would instead spend all that time looking for a functioning pump out instead of sailing .

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Mike,

If you switched back to a standard marine head with a holding tank... just think of all the time you’d save by not having to handle waste and argue the merits of composting heads... I mean desicating heads, here on CF.

True, at least on the second count. But then I’d have no more excuse to avoid doing my brightwork or fixing my teak decks .

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by newhaul

you would instead spend all that time looking for a functioning pump out instead of sailing .

There aren’t any up in Canada where Mike is at present, he’d just need to let the harbor mullets do their job.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

There aren’t any up in Canada where Mike is at present, he’d just need to let the harbor mullets do their job.

Tis true. Most people around here just ‘let-er-loose’, even while sitting in our little marina. Doesn’t much matter given that the town has its treatment plant outflow pipe not far away.

Given all this, my compost head does make my boat one of the greenest in the area.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Tis true. Most people around here just ‘let-er-loose’, even while sitting in our little marina. Doesn’t much matter given that the town has its treatment plant outflow pipe not far away.

Given all this, my compost head does make my boat one of the greenest in the area.

Mike,

Your poop is no greener than than anyone else’s, but of course that depends on what you’ve been eating...

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by newhaul

actually not quite true the bags I use dissolve in water ( used them in the navy to wash contaminated clothing from our sewage treatment plants)

Cool, link?

[john61ct]

Resource http://www.livesmallridefree.com/blo...posting-toilet

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Cool, link?

https://www.amazon.com/Sani-Melt-Wat.../dp/B0019VUQ6M
Many others via Google just do water soluble laundry bags.
Otherwise you will get urn sized ones for burying human ashes.