Composting toilet and flush toilet?
April 13, 2009 by Composting
Filed under Composting Q&A's
bobyjdizle asked:
I am all for composting toilets, but when people say the flushed feces is wasted, is it really? it goes to a sewage plant where they use it as sludge in agriculture so where is the major waste? and for people saying it contaminates the water, what about all the laundry detergant and other chemicals in there, they have to clean that stuff too?
Nelda on Wed, 23rd Dec 2009 7:34 pm
I am unsure what a composting toilet is.
Most people have a flush toilet where the contents go to a sewerage processing plant. Some plants extract methane gas from the sewerage. And some plants use the end result sludge as fertiliser (as you mention).
I think a composting toilet is used by people who are not served by a sewerage system. Their waste goes into an underground unit but does not go to a common effluent system. I presume it has the ability to process waste to a certain point. But I also presume it must be cleaned out from time to time.
Brainteaser on Sat, 26th Dec 2009 7:12 am
A proper compost toilet has to go 3 m deep . I don’t think it is practical if you live in a skyscraper . It’s possible for country people to use one .A flush toilet is more practical for the average person unless you are into self sufficiency. It shouldn’t contaminate the drinking water unless there’s an accident . However , there is always that risk .
oikos on Sun, 27th Dec 2009 2:25 pm
Not every waste water treatment plant directs its sludge to agriculture. Some plants have only primary treatment (screen out the big pieces). Most have secondary treatment, which allows the waste (including laundry detergent) to decompose. A very few have tertiary treatment, which removes the nutrients. Whatever is not removed finds its way into the nearest stream. In a drought year, this can account for about all of the water in the stream.