Treating bog outputs

Three Ways to Compost Faeces

In Bucket

Lift the top from your bog. Tie the faeces bag shut and place the lid on your bucket. Remove the bucket to an outside location with some protection from the elements. Under a tree is fine. Remove the bucket lid and open the faeces bag. Place about a cup of soil and a cup of water in the bag. Place excess bag back in the bucket but do not seal. Place the lid on the bucket but with something to stop it sealing so it can breathe. Leave the bucket for at least 3months and longer if cold. The contents can then be buried around trees but should not be buried near a food garden. Note you will need to have a supply of buckets. 20 litre nappy buckets are fine.

In Bath

Set up an old bath outside with some water proof covering (eg: roofing iron). Seal the plug hole or mount the bath so you can place a container (eg: icecream) under the plug hole. You will need a quntitity of tiger worms around 1 kg (trademe).

Lift the top from your bog. Tie the faeces bag shut and place the lid on your bucket. Remove the bucket to your bath. Uncover the bath and take the lid off your bucket. Drop the faeces bag complete into the end of your bath at the opposite end to the plug hole. Add your tiger worms into or on around your bag. Replace the bath cover. Place a new bag inside your bucket and return it to its place in your bog.

Subsequently repeat the proceedure but each time push the last bag(s) of faeces toward the plug end of the bath sufficiently to allow space for the new bag.

Once the bath is full and at least six months to a year has elapsed, remove the compost from the older end of the bath. It should be a rich black with no evidence that it began as faeces. You can use this compost for any composting purpose. The drain from the bath plug into your container should be a rich concentrate that can be diluted and sprayed on plants.

In Drum

Obtain two 200 litre drums with lids. You will need a quantity of tiger worms around 1 kg (trademe).

Lift the top from your bog. Tie the faeces bag shut and place the lid on your bucket. Remove the bucket to your first drum. Take the lids off both your drum and bucket. Drop the faeces bag complete into the drum. Add your tiger worms. Replace the drum lid. Place a new bag inside your bucket and return it to its place in your bog.

Subsequently repeat the procedure until the first drum is full. Once you have another full bag remove a quantity of tiger worms from your first drum to add to your second and continue as before with the second drum.

Once the second drum is full and at least six months to a year has elapsed since the first drum was filled. The first drum should contain a rich black compost with no evidence that it began as faeces. You can use this compost for any composting purpose. Leave a good quantity of worms in the first drum and begin to fill it again. Repeat this process always waiting until both drums are full before using the compost from the earliest.

Some notes:

• A primary purpose of a composting toilet is to isolate our faeces from the land for sufficient time to allow the pathogens within our faeces to die off – they begin to die once outside their host but will take months to completely die off. This is why its important not to use the compost until time has passed. At least three months are required in a warm climate and around six or more in a cold climate.

• Tiger worms secretions are noxious to pathogens.

• You can use a mix of worms that include tiger if you are experienced or confident.

• If the worms and faeces mix becomes very dry it may be necessary to add water. The worms can't survive under water and should never be flooded.

• If you want to separate your worms from compost you can use light. They will move to a darker place when exposed to light although it may take a while.