Composting Toilet

[RangerRick]

http://www.solviva.com/wastewater_management.htm

I've got a place down on a NE Texas lake I'm preparing to build a small vacation type log "cabin" on like maybe 20'X30' with a loft. One big issue for me is to go septic or not. I stumbled on this site the other day and became intrigued and thought I see if any of you folks have any experience with anything like this unit or other ideas of a "crappy" nature.

Rick

[annabella1]

I have raised earthworms for a long time and it is very logical to use them to digest your human waste. Technically this is not composting and I do not call it that. Composting is a natural process of enzymes that reduces material to humus. Properly done it produces temperatures that would be harmful or kill earthworms. Instead I would call this process a vermiculture toilet. Worms reduce waste faster than composting and as an added bonus worm castings are a natural deodorizer. In a composting toilet the urine and the solid wastes are separated because excess urine can disrupt the composting process. In a vermiculture toilet this is not necessary. The urine can pass through the worm bed and as long as it does not become soggy no harm is done. Last year I was working on experiments in making a vermiculture toilet, but was disrupted when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I was glad that you supplied this link it means that I am not the only one thinking along these lines. In reading it looks like the author started with a standard composting toilet with some success. Then later stumbled upon a creation of a vermiculture toilet with tremendous success. The only drawback I can think of is that if you leave this vermiculture toilet unused for months at a time (if its a vacation home or a bug out cabin) then the worms may not survive and would have to be replaced.