Treating bog
outputs
Although we have been supplying plastic bags for
faeces we intend to change to starch bags that are compostable. This means that
you can treat the bag as compost too. The bags are available from a variety of
sources. Try http://www.bio-green.com.nz
or http://www.ecostore.co.nz
The usual method is to tie the top of your faeces
bag while your bucket is still in your bog. Securely fit the bucket lid then
take the bucket to an outside place where you can compost (the back of our
garden in our case). There remove the lid and add a cup of water and a cup of
soil to the opened faeces bag. Tie it again but very loosely. Place the lid on
top but slightly off with a brick to stop it blowing off. Leave it for three to
six months. Three months in high temperatures and six in very low temperatures.
Say 3 months North Island summer and 4 winter. Three South Island summer and six
winter.
Regarding using worms to compost. Start out with
one 200 litre plastic (must be plastic) drum
with drai
n
holes
in bottom or use an old bath. If necessary you can cut the top off the drum with a skill saw or
other battery tool. Line bottom with cardboard or lots of paper. Add kitchen
waste without eggs, bones, onions as a starter. Place a few kilos of worms in
the bottom along with your first bucket of faeces then add sufficient sawdust to
stop any smell. Leave until next full bucket which you add along with more saw
dust and
continue
till the drum is full. You may then either leave first drum while you do second
or store the first without worms in a plastic garbage bag for at least six
months. When second is full (or the first full again)
use it as compost. As you see from the picture on left the compost looks
great without any odour problem. This system is easy to maintain because you
just drop each bucket load straight into the drum and then reuse your bucket.
Even if you don't want to go to this extent any
use of tiger worms is a boost to the composting process. Just place them in your
compost bucket after removing it from your bog. Remember to also add about a cup
full of water and soil and to leave the bucket lid slightly off with a brick on
top to stop it blowing away.
Another technology of which we have heard but
have no person experience is for treating urine. The unit consists of a
stainless steel tray covered by glass. Urine is piped into the tray which is
positioned in a sunny spot facing the midday sun. The sun crystallises the urine
making it easy to remove and use on your garden without the smell.
March 2005 - A later update: we are pleased to
report that we have extracted the first of our drums of faeces composted by
worms and are delighted with the results. It is far richer mix than even the
best potting mix commercially available and we have no hesitation in using
it for vegetables or indeed
any
garden use. Instead of a drum or as an alternative we have used an old plastic
bath. Worms seem to like migrating sideways more than up or down so this is a
better and maybe cheaper alternative.
n
holes
in bottom or use an old bath. If necessary you can cut the top off the drum with a skill saw or
other battery tool. Line bottom with cardboard or lots of paper. Add kitchen
waste without eggs, bones, onions as a starter. Place a few kilos of worms in
the bottom along with your first bucket of faeces then add sufficient sawdust to
stop any smell. Leave until next full bucket which you add along with more saw
dust and
continue
till the drum is full. You may then either leave first drum while you do second
or store the first without worms in a plastic garbage bag for at least six
months. When second is full (or the first full again)
use it as compost. As you see from the picture on left the compost looks
great without any odour problem. This system is easy to maintain because you
just drop each bucket load straight into the drum and then reuse your bucket.
