Using the bins is an interesting idea! Not only does it eliminate the need to run around with fresh crap, but these bins are watertight. So they won't leach fluids into the environment.

But there may be a couple of downsides.

• It is hard to believe that the composting process would get enough oxygen in these bins, since the walls of these bins don't let anything in.
• The material might get too wet, because very little water will evaporate from these bins when they're closed. You might end up with a stinky swamp in a plastic box.
• This size bins would be very heavy when full.
• Using a bin prevents worms and other critters from helping with the composting process.

Doc --- "Human manure is 90% E. coli." I find that very hard to believe. Where did you get that figure?

The trouble with just disposing of humanure by burying it, as we've found, is that if you don't go ahead and mix in the carbon materials, it ends up smelling and attracting flies. If you're going to use up all that carbon, it seems like you want to then put the product to use in the garden!

Estimates are that human feces is 66-85% by weight of water, 3-5% dietary fiber and 55% bacteria (which are also mostly water). See Latrine literature review.

But according to wikipedia, only 0,1% of our gut flora are E.coli or related. The aforementioned report states that only 7% of bacterial RNA collected from fecal samples belongs to earobic bacteria (which includes E.coli, Enterococci and Lactobacilli).

Anna, this reports also investigates pit latrines. I think it presents good evidence that they are not quite optimal. One might say an endorsement for thermophilic aerobic compostation from another angle.

Roland --- I knew I could count on you for some hard data! I see where Doc's numbers come from now --- it sounds like bacteria in general may be the majority of the dry weight of humanure.

By the way, I think I just won Mark over to the thermophilic humanure composting idea! I offered that he could put anything at all I'd been vetoing on the list in exchange. (Sounds a bit like the kind of deal you don't want to make in a fairy tale.... )

From what I've read so far, thermophilic composting is way better than a pit latrine. Both from an environmental and a health harzard standpoint.

As long as you add enough fluffy carbon-rich material to aerate the pile properly and cover it up against flies. Finding or making that material sounds like the biggest challenge.

Sorry for reopening this very old post, but it's such an interesting subject.

Any news?