The Bush Toilet Discussion

[wander]

Keep it simple.

To carry poo out take a 4 litre nalgene. (I've never had a problem with the Nalgene but do carry it in a dry bag just in case) All solid (it's not too hard to poo straight into the tub) and paper waste goes in. At home empty into toilet. Clean out (1/3 fill with water, put lid on, shake, repeat as required) add couple table spoons disinfectant (I have found toielt cleaner is slightly better as it sticks to the side of the tub and lets the next load slide out without sticking too much), replace lid and store for next trip.

I have experimented with variations on this theme and various possible improvements did not.

The only issue is the pack does not get any lighter during a trip.

[tasadam]

Had some time in the car this evening, was listening to ABC News Radio.
They had BBC World News on, and I lucked on to an article talking about a biodegradable plastic bag that turns human waste into fertilizer, because it comes pre-treated with whatever allows that to happen. It's been designed for poor slum areas of the world by a Swedish company.

Apparently they are planning them to be "free" or "about the cost of a normal plastic bag", and they are good for a single use, tie a knot when done & they stay smell-free for at least 24 hours. And you just put them in the garden as they turn into fertilizer.

I caught the name and just did some googling, came up with these links -
http://www1.voanews.com/learningenglish ... 72067.html - there's also an MP3 file in the top right that could be worth a listen.

http://www.energyboom.com/emerging/peep ... fertilizer

http://davidreport.com/blog/200809/life ... eepoo-bag/ - "2.6 billion people just got their own toilet"

http://www.peepoople.com/showpage.php?page=3_0
This article is well worth a read, it also has a bit of humour in it in relation to the feelings of many of us in relation to a software company...

Personal
The Peepoo is personal, as in personal computer; it is mobile, as in mobile phone; and micro, as in Microsoft.

Although, it is primarily a serious article -

Independently sustainable
Due to its self-sanitizing function, the Peepoo, even if no collection or disposal services are available or yet developed, does not contaminate the environment. The traditional link between water and sanitation is cut. As a single unit, the Peepoo is independently sustainable. Every user contributes to society.

Here's their home page - http://www.peepoople.com/

There might be some answers in this product...
An extended walk would still need a tube to store the bags in, but they sound a lot easier to dispose of. Well, in a third world garden anyhow, I suppose some regulatory checks would need doing on their suitability for Australian / Tasmanian conditions when it comes to disposing (burying? dropping in a pit?).

If you want to read more about it, there are heaps of articles on it linked on this google search.

[juju]

Before kids I used a diaphragm for contraception. When I overnighted this was invaluable when menstruating. Just wash out and replace regularly.
I mostly carry out my paper, but the smell seems to escape even a zip lock bag, what do others do?
And before using a composting toilet we composted our toilet matter by just covering the can's contents with leaf litter (we have 25 acres of bush). After only a day there was no smell. I wonder if it breaks down much faster on top of the soil or at least just covered because the flies get into it straight away. I always bury in the bush for etiquette.