Humanure is a term coined by Joseph Jenkins to discuss the composting of human feces.
A summary of the method is as follows
- Use sawdust to bury manure. Sawdust provides carbon and this balances the nitrogen in the faeces. A good carbon-nitrogen balance is needed for composting. The Sawdust also keeps bad smells in and keeps flies away.
- Do not separate urine and feces, as the urine provides moisture the microorganisms need.
- As well as adding the buckets from the toilet to the compost heap, throw on chunky materials like straw. This traps air pockets in the compost heap.
- Optionally, skewer the compost heap with sticks or pipes to provide more aeration.
- Let it sit for a year before using on plants
For for a discussion of the science and theory of composting toilets see Composting toilets for case studies and how-tos, see the Category:Composting toilets pages.