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Human waste disposal on swampy land

 
gardener
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Ok, so I had an idea that involves disposing of human waste on a wet, swampy piece of property. (so no drainfield). Assuming that it can't leave, what could you do with it to render it safe or destroy it. Does composting really kill all of the pathogens? Can it be burned? Any ideas besides burying?
 
pollinator
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Here is the manual to how to safely dispose of human manure:  http://humanurehandbook.com/downloads/Humanure_Manual_2019.pdf

This is a short version.  There may be longer versions available online, or you can purchase at:  https://humanurehandbook.com/
 
gardener
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I have a vacation shack in the coastal swamps. I have an incinerator toilet. It runs off standard volt at 20 amps and does the job. It wasnt inexpensive but i needed something "mainstream" and this was the closest thing.

It literally burns it to ash. No water used in the system.  It is sized like a normal commode. No drain, but there is a 4" pipe/fan/vent.
 
pollinator
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I've always put pet and, more recently, human waste in the bottoms of traditional raised beds and hugel mounds with less than recommended precomposting. As long as it isn't exposed or touching anything you're going to eat I don't see what the problem is.
 
pollinator
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Seconding "The Humanure Handbook"
 
pollinator
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You might also research the term "Constructed Wetland."

https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/constructed-wetlands

I researched them a while back when I first acquired my property.  My County Sanitarian knew about them in the abstract, but provided me with diagrams of a highly technical and materials/labor intensive system.  Expensive!  He wouldn't even discuss anything more organic.

I opted to put in the traditional septic tank and field and quietly use a dry bucket system.

 
Ruth Meyers
pollinator
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Found this book posted on the Wiki 4 years ago, but not reviewed.

Sadly, it's not in my library system.

Septic Tank Options and Alternatives by Feidhlim Harty
https://permies.com/wiki/43411/Septic-Tank-Options-Alternatives-Feidhlim

"This book lists conventional and alternative sewage treatment systems and outlines the pros and cons of each in a straightforward and nontechnical way.
Septic Tank Options & Alternatives covers The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved systems, plus innovative sustainable solutions, and also proposes alternatives where site and soil conditions are suboptimal."
 
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I highly recommend the Humanure Handbook method to process with no runoff into the ground. Burying unprocessed waste, especially as fertilizer near food, places pathogens in proximity with food and Joe's referenced research includes evidence of pathogens being absorbed into food crops where there's no washing it off. You definitely shouldn't go that route, instead use thermophilic composting which works really well when you include feces and urine in the compost, don't separate it. Hot compost goes through a lot of moisture, and if you cover it properly as Joe explains, there is no smell indoors or outdoors.
 
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