This training was prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) team of Otto Gonzalez-USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (Team Leader), Jon Fripp (Civil Engineer) and Chris Hoag (Wetland Plant Ecologist)-USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Civil Engineers). Fripp and Hoag were the primary authors of this material. The U.S. AID provided funding support for the USDA team. Human Waste - Introduction to Composting Toilets

Photo from Cornell Waste Management Institute Human Waste or Manure is Dangerous Human waste (fecal matter and urine) can contain dangerous pathogens These pathogens can make people very sick Adequate care must be taken with human waste to avoid contaminating food and drinking water Adequate care can include a good latrine, waste treatment or composting

Photo from Cornell Waste Management Institute Remember: Composting turns organic waste into good soil Human waste or human manure can be composted. But care must be taken Human waste contains Nitrogen Think of the human waste as the green material (the nitrogen) that we discussed earlier Additional brown material (the carbon) must be added Remember: Human waste can contain dangerous pathogens

Photo from Cornell Waste Management Institute 1- Collect the human waste in a toilet receptacle and add it to a compost pile 2- Compost the human waste within the toilet structure Two ways of Composting Human waste

1- Collect the human waste in a toilet receptacle and add it to a compost pile Photo from weblife.org Humanure Handbook Can be as simple as a bucket collection Start with dry leaves or waste hay or straw at the bottom of the bucket

1- Collect the human waste in a toilet receptacle and add it to a compost pile After each use, add some saw dust or dry leaves.

1- Collect the human waste in a toilet receptacle and add it to a compost pile When the bucket is full, add it to the center of the compost pile Be sure it is well mixed and heats up to above 50 degrees centigrade This temperature will kill most of the dangerous pathogens

A two container compost toilet is most common Human waste is deposited into one container. Additional brown (carbon) material is added after each use When the first container is full, the second is used. No additional material is deposited into the first container 2- Compost the human waste within the toilet The material in the first container is allowed to turn into compost as the second is used

2- Compost the human waste within the toilet The two bin type composting toilets have been used all over the world. Photo from WECF Photo from weblife.org Humanure Handbook Photo from WECF

Human waste contains a lot of moisture. This limits the ability of air to get into the mixture The compost may not cook well It is a good idea to provide drainage at the bottom The drainage must go to a safe location (not allowed to go to drinking water) It is also a good idea to provide for air flow by either turning the pile or using a screen

Do not allow the material to leak out Finish the floor of the compost toilet so that it is waterproof. 2- Compost the human waste within the toilet

It should be painted black – this will help it to heat in the sun and pull the bad smells out of the compost toilet 2- Compost the human waste within the toilet A vent pipe will draw bad smells out Vent only through the area that has the compost material

Be sure that sufficient brown material (carbon) is added to the pile Add brown material after each use Photo from WECF Do not allow the compost to get too moist Do not allow the compost to get too dry Stirring the compost will make it cook quicker This bin is not being used This bin is being used 2- Compost the human waste within the toilet

Allow the compost made with human waste to cook for a minimum of one year (2 years is best) Compost made with human waste should be allowed to cook longer than compost made with regular organic waste (as discussed in the last presentation) Summary: Using compost made with human waste

Compost made from Human waste can still be dangerous. It must be kept away from drinking water and from touching crops that will be eaten by people It is best to use the finished compost made from human waste for: Ornamental gardens Shade trees Fruit trees The compost should be buried under 30 cm of soil Summary: Using compost made with human waste

Test Time What is wrong in this picture? This looks like a good privy or latrine But A two bin toilet will work better if you want to make compost from the human waste Photo from John Moore

Test Time What is wrong in this picture? Two bin composting toilets need to be side by side

The End Remember: do not let compost from human waste to have contact with drinking water or food crops!