"ecological" toilet

[forrester]

I have an allotment on a site which has not been used for many years. We have sheds but no toilet,  does anyone have any knowledge of an enivronmentally friendly toilet we may be able to have on site

[forrester]

[allotment_chick]

Hey forrester - might be worth checking this out - interesting reading if nothing else.  Would a composting toilet work?  

http://www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk/water-reedbeds.php

AC

[Wicker]

Even as speak the local council are in the process of constructing a toilet on our site.  It's like a wee house with harled walls, a woodframed opening window (wonder why it needs to open???!!!).  
The facilites aren't in place yet tho and the roof isn't on but thankfully no-one has tried to use it just because it provides a hideyhole.
It will be some sort of dry/chemical jobbie which will be taken away regularly by some firm employed for that reason.
I know we should be grateful but it is right at the entrance gate and very public and seems as tho anyone standing up will be clearly seen thru the window - top half anyway!!
Watch this space !

[gavin]

Well - if Concorde can have frosted glass on the loo windows, so I think should you. ;D  Demand it! ;D  Bang fist on table! ;D  It's your right!!!!! ;D  

----------- but why the h... frosted glass was thought necessary on Concorde is way beyond my imagination! :) :) :)

But seriously - there has to be an ecologically friendlier (and cheaper :)) option than that!

All best - Gavin

[Yorkie]

Concorde had frosted glass on the toilet window because at 40,000 feet and going at Mach 2 the hymn "Nearer my God to Thee" takes on a whole new meaning. Lesser celubrious aircraft don't have windows only toilets with a high vacuum flush. The last Boeing 736 I was on had the only toilet which made my ears pop with decompression when the flush operated.  :o

You could probably build your own ecological bog like the Goods did in "The Good Life" and then you could use the Methane produced to fuel your kettle.  ;D

[allotment_chick]

Hey guys - accordingly to my other half - there were no windows in the Concorde loos - frosted glass or otherwise!
AC x

[Yorkie]

Please !! Don't spoil the story with a bit of truth.  :D Never being able to afford the £2000 or so for a Concorde flight I wouldn't be able to comment from experience about the bog facilities. Based on other aircraft none of 'em have loo windows. Rumanian Airways used to have outside loos but the elastic bands operating the forward fans made their use a bit problematic.  :o ::)

[gavin]

Agreed, Yorkie :)

Speaking of such things, how many British trains still "empty" on to the track?  Am I the only one who thinks we could have thought of something better by now?

And on the original question --- a fount of wisdom!  on http://www.compostingtoilet.org/owner_build.cfm

All best - Gavin

[allotment_chick]

Awwwww guys - I like to keep things factual!   ;D

I can confirm that there were windows in the facilitites of the First Class cabin on a 747 (at least, I think it was a 747 ... it was definitely a Boeing!)  8)  

Me - I'd vote for the return of the Flying Boats (Short Bros and Imperial Airways knew a thing or two ... )

ACx

[budgiebreeder]

Gavin have you been on the new Virgin Trains .Their loos are super (dont know if it still goes on track though will try and see next time) but do look for the door lock.Nearly caught me out! :-\

[gavin]

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd forgotten them - yes, I've used one of those trains.  And the loos were "out of order."  

From the sensory overload, I think I can safely guess that Virgin, at least, do NOT dump on the track!  ??? ???

All best, Gavin

[Yorkie]

I don't think trains still "dump" onto the track. Have you noticed the old message "Please don't use the toilets when the train is standing in the Station" has now gone??  ::) As for a Boeing 747; from personal experience I have never seen windows in the loos. For heavens sake who is going to look in at 36,000 feet?  :D

[gavin]

Oh yes they do!  Or at least some of of the rolling stock in W Yorkshire is still dumping ???

All best, Gavin :)

[Yorkie]

If that is the case Gavin then there is a good reason to get the Environmental Health folk involved. Not only are the Line Maintainance guys at risk under the Health & Safety at Work Act there is also a case for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Act and illegal dumping of organic waste.  ::)

Even the hire boats on the Broads in Norfolk don't dump their sewage into the water any more. The eels don't taste the same now though.  ;D

[Multiveg]

The no 1 component of this is a compost activator...

[gavin]

Resurrecting (probably too late? - sorry, I only just found this on another board) - a link with some cheap and simple ideas.  http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/sawdustoilet.html

And very generously, they offer a link to the on-line version of the Humanure Handbook at the bottom of the page - http://www.weblife.org/humanure/default.html

All best - Gavin

[Wicker]

Coincidence that you resurrected this thread now, Gavin, as our allotment toilet has just become ready for use the other day.  It's much more elaborate than I thought it would be (haven't actually had the nerve to use it, just look at it and read the many paged instruction manual!).  The glazed window which should but cannot open because of a metal mesh over it, stained door with brass fittings.  The toilet itself is very large like a very big potbellied stove with "flue" going up to periscope like ventilator on roof, various compartments (a) 1s drain out  and 2s go into compartment to which special composting material (enormous crate of stuff also sits beside contraption) must be added when used!! Not sure now who checks to see when composted or takes it away.

Point of all this is that it had to come from America at a cost of many thousands of £s I believe and I know we should be grateful but ....

[JAL]

Hi,

On our self managed site we looked into all different types of toilets but finally opted for the ordinary flush type.  We have had a lot of support from our local council and have just managed to secure a grant from the Lottery to install flush toilets - looking forward to getting rid of the bucket!!

jal

[Wicker]

Yup, we would all have much preferred that - there are 4 taps on the site from the mains and we're sure it couldn't have cost more but this is they say more ecologically sound  ::).  It will be very rarely used whereas a flushing type would. But I do know we should be grateful as it doesn't cost the allotment holders anything (at least not directly but of course there is the Council Tax)

[Yorkie]

Hi,

On our self managed site we looked into all different types of toilets but finally opted for the ordinary flush type.  We have had a lot of support from our local council and have just managed to secure a grant from the Lottery to install flush toilets - looking forward to getting rid of the bucket!!

jal

Fantastic Jal -- You can all now become "flushed" with success. ;D ;D You could say you have won the jackpot.

Yorkie