Welcome to Composting Guide
Composting Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Build A Composting Toilet: Your Next Do-It-Yourself Project
from:Composting has become very important to our landfill survival and has crossed over to the bathroom. Build a compost toilet to help reduce the need of water and even use it for fertilizers.
The engineering of how to build a composting toilet is based on the principal that human waste is 90% water. Evaporation of that water is where it all begins. When heat and air begin evaporation then there is an even oxygen and moisture distribution, which helps the waste break down faster and does not smell. There are some that require electricity and others do not require any. Sometimes additives can be added to help with the waste break down process in the composting toilet. Building one is not as hard as some would think. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind before you decide to build a composting toilet:
• Cold air temperatures or freezing conditions can slow down the evaporation process, so therefore it slows down the breakdown of wastes.
• Purchase or build a larger composting area then you think you will need. The extra room will enhance bacteria growth, allowing for extra warmth and air movement.
Okay, to build a composting toilet you will need some plywood, hardware, a standard toilet seat, a five gallon bucket and simple tools. The steps include
1. Cut a hole in an 18x18" piece of ¾" plywood. The hole should be the size of a five gallon bucket.
2. Place this piece of plywood next to another piece that measures at 18x3", also ¾". Hinge these two pieces together.
3. Build a box that is 10" deep, 18" wide, and 21"long. Screw the 18x3" board to the top, leaving the larger piece of plywood free to lift.
4. Adjust the leg height so the bucket is able to protrude a ½" through the top. Screw the legs to the inside of the box.
5. Alter the toilet seat so the bucket can rest against the bottom of the toilet seat ring.
6. Place the seat over the hole, mark it, and screw the seat to the box.
7. Stain and varnish your new composting toilet.
8. Place the bucket in and you are ready to use.
It is important to note that the seat is just the beginning. You need a separate composting bin for the actual composting process. Make sure you have a thermometer and cover materials for your waste. Cover materials include dry rotted leaves, weeds, straw, sawdust, and other discarded organic materials.
You can research how to build a composting toilet further before deciding which system is best for you.
Composting Specific links
Composting News
Portland will pay to promote composting - kgw.com
Portland will pay to promote composting kgw.com If you are have problems or questions about Portland's new composting system, someone may soon be knocking on your door to help you out. At the end of February, the city's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability will start training and then paying ... |
Cities, Towns to Learn About Municipal Composting - ValpoLife.com
Cities, Towns to Learn About Municipal Composting ValpoLife.com Municipal representatives from Lake, Porter and LaPorte Counties interested in learning more about municipal compost site operations are invited to attend “Composting: The New Waste Management,” a free educational seminar, sponsored by the Recycling ... |
Agency reopens access to composter's storm drains - Bakersfield Californian
Agency reopens access to composter's storm drains Bakersfield Californian BY JOHN COX Californian staff writer Cal-OSHA has withdrawn an order that required a Lamont composting facility to keep workers away from the storm drain system where in October two brothers are believed to have inhaled lethal doses of toxic fumes. |
Oak Park plans food scrap composting program - TribLocal
Oak Park plans food scrap composting program TribLocal By Bridget Doyle TribLocal reporter Today at 7:42 am In an effort to go even greener, Oak Park is kicking off a pilot food scrap composting program along a garbage route on the south side of the village. Karen Rozmus, a 16-year member of the village's ... |
Neighbors describe living with composting site - WGCL Atlanta
Neighbors describe living with composting site WGCL Atlanta By Sonia Moghe - email As Greenco Environmental works to move its composting site from Lamar County to DeKalb County, CBS Atlanta decided to pay a visit to its current site to see what neighbors think of it. The people interviewed, who lived between ... News update, Feb. 8 |