I've been using the Humanure system since 2014- that's 8 years now- and absolutely love it.
They only thing you really need is sawdust (not wood shavings, and not from pressure treated wood) and another bulkier cover material. Luckily I have a free supply of great sawdust from a mill nearby. I keep it in 5 gallon buckets...i love the job of refilling- love the smell of sawdust and it is so light and fun to use. Half a coconut shell is perfect for a scoop. I fill about 8 buckets at a time and it lasts for 6 months or more. I do buy the hay which i use for the bulky cover material and i just let spoil alongside the compost bin, but certainly I have enough weeds that I could use them instead; i like the hay for convenience.
I love innovations, and have been looking all these years for any tweaks that could make Jenkin's system even better, but...its just a great system.
His book is funny and informative and clear.
https://humanurehandbook.com/ and has all the info you need to know.
I would like eventually to switch to metal 5 gallon buckets but haven't found them yet, so for now I use plastic. The buckets last for at least 5 years...then you should get new ones, as the plastic does degrade and split on the bottom, and that is no fun.
I highly recommend this system. I live alone, and fill 1 bucket per week approx. It takes me 15 minutes every 2 weeks (this is nothing!!!) to carry 2 buckets, empty, rinse, soap, rinse. I put my kitchen scraps (from a separate container) in the pile first and cover with loo material- no bears in my compost which is a plus. I use 1 gallon of water for the 2 buckets, designated brush, bit of biodegradable soap. Then 2 years later use it on my fruit trees and other trees.
It is so, so, so much better than a pit latrine. With the bucket method you can easily cover your deposit. No smell, no flies.
And what is it like emptying the bucket? Its really not bad. Most of it is sawdust. Sometimes there is an ammonia smell, but it only takes a couple of minutes to add to compost pile and cover with bulky cover material.
Pee, paper, poo, it all goes in. That being said, if i just need to pee, I do not go to the loo. I pee right on the ground or use a small container and then toss it around the yard, hopefully to deter deer from the plants.
I feel so much better about my waste and my life with this system. Every time I make my deposit and cover it, and every time I empty the buckets and cover the material, and every time I use the resulting compost, I get a deep sense of well being. I love water, and i hate to see it wasted.
To me it seems easy. I have timed it- 15 minutes every 2 weeks to empty buckets clean and prepare them.
Restocking sawdust doesn't take long, though I haven't timed it, probably 20 minutes- and I go only 2 times a year.
When I have a big more conventional house, I will still use this system. I LOVE IT
