SANITATION BY COMPOSTING
Sanitation developed in post-earthquake Haiti in 2010 and 2011 by GiveLove.org.
An abbreviated version of this paper was submitted to the International Perspectives on Water and the Environment 2012 Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Joseph Jenkins, September 20, 2011
President, Joseph Jenkins, Inc., 143 Forest Lane, Grove City, PA 16127 USA
mail@JosephJenkins.com; CompostSanitation.com
ABSTRACT: Compost toilets can take many forms. One such toilet, the “humanure” toilet, is designed to simply collect and recycle human excreta, which includes fecal material, urine and toilet paper, along with a carbon-based cover material, via anodor-free, heat-producing organic mass. The organic compost mass is created away from the toilet in a separate compost bin,not in the toilet itself. The thermophilic and aging phases in the compost bin render the organic material hygienically safe bydestroying pathogenic organisms. The final product, humus, is excellent for growing food. Because the toilets themselves are
not utilized either for the composting process or for storage of toilet material, they are inexpensive and simple in design andimplementation. They recycle organic materials and do not produce or dispose of waste. They create no environmental pollution
when properly managed. They require no piped water, no electricity, no venting, no hole in the ground and no drain. Whenmanaged correctly, they do not breed flies or produce unpleasant odors and can therefore be located indoors, even in intimate
settings. They can be used in almost any climate.
KEYWORDS: compost sanitation, compost toilet, humanure, Joseph Jenkins, sanitation, thermophilic, organic recycling, Haiti,
Port au Prince, GiveLove, SOIL, sawdust toilet, emergency toilet, waterless toilet, ecosan, ecological sanitation, Patricia Arquette, Alisa Keesey, Jean Lucho, Rosetta Getty, IPWE Conference 2012,human waste,eco-toilet,waste management,waste
disposal,ecological toilet,composting toilet,Rodrigo Silva

INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS "COMPOST SANITATION"?
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 88% of all diarrhea cases globally result frompoor sanitation and polluted drinking water. The consequence is 1.7 million deaths annually, mostly ofchildren under five years of age. The WHO states that fecal pathogens likely contaminate surface waterand ground water through waterborne sewage systems, flush toilets and latrines. According to the WHO,
“Lack of sanitation is a serious health risk and an affront to human dignity. It affects billions of people
around the world, particularly the poor and disadvantaged. If the trend continues as currently projected,
by 2015 there will be 2.7 billion people without access to basic sanitation. Every US $1 invested in improved sanitation, translates into an average return of US $9.”1
Sanitation systems that do not pollute water or soil are therefore crucial. A “compost sanitation” system collects human excreta before it comes into contact with either soil or water. The system is designed
to promote hot composting of the collected human excrement, including fecal material and urine, which
can and should be recycled for agricultural use. When properly used and managed, a compost toilet
system, based on the “humanure” method, requires virtually no water, produces no waste, creates noenvironmental pollution, attracts no flies, costs very little, requires no urine diversion, and produces noodor. Instead of waste, the toilet system produces humus, a valuable resource that can safely be used
to improve soils. The toilets can be constructed for very little money or no money at all if recycled materials are used. They can have a small footprint and can therefore be located virtually anywhere outdoors or indoors — in a bedroom, closet, porch, basement, dormitory, office, apartment or tent. When
properly utilized, the toilet produces no unpleasant odor, so its presence inside a living area can remain
unnoticed and discreet.
Compost sanitation also provides the basis for a complete composting system for either a home orcommunity and allows for the recycling of food and other organic materials that are often discarded.
HOW DOES A COMPOST SANITATION SYSTEM WORK?
A compost sanitation system is based on the concepts and principles of thermophilic (hot) composting. The three basic components required for such a system to successfully operate are: 1) the toilet itSanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20111

self; 2) carbon-based cover materials; 3) compost bins.
Component #1 — The Toilet: The toilet is simply a collection receptacle. Its purpose is only tocollect human excrement, both urine and feces, in a waterproof container or "toilet receptacle." The"toilet material" collects in the receptacle — human excrement does not contact soil or water. The toilet
material is not referred to as "human waste" because nothing that goes into a humanure toilet is wasted,disposed of, or discarded. All components are constructively recycled and reused via composting.
Hence, the word "humanure" has become popular when referring to human excrement that is recycled
through composting systems. The term "waste" is not used, associated with, or appropriate when discussing humanure toilet systems. This sanitation system involves neither waste nor disposal.
The size and type of toilet receptacle can vary from place to place, depending on availability and application. Five-gallon (20 liter) plastic receptacles are commonly used andare attractive for a small-scale system because the receptacle can be easily
carried and emptied by a single person. They can also be inexpensive or
free, are water proof, have tight lids, and can last a long time. This system
is not to be confused with a “bucket toilet" (Figure 1) which is human excrement deposited into a bucket without cover material, then discarded into
the environment as waste. Bucket toilets, however, can easily be converted
into humanure toilets by adding the other two components of the system(cover materials and compost bins).
Larger toilet receptacles have also been utilized. In Haiti, both 20 literand 60 liter receptacles are in use. The 60 liter receptacles require two persons to handle (although they can be slid out of a toilet and replaced by
one person). Even larger receptacles such as a 55 gallon (208 liter) drum
can be used. These may require machinery for efficient handling.
The purpose of the toilet is to collect feces, urine, toilet paper, and saw- Figure 1: A “bucket toilet” uses
no cover material, is very odordust (or other cover material) so as to prevent unsanitary contact with the ous, breeds flies and pollutes
environment. The collection of toilet materials in this manner primes the the environment. This feceshuman excrement for thermophilic composting because it is combined with caked bucket in Port au Prince
a carbon-based organic material inside the toilet. Human excrement will is an example of unacceptable
not compost on its own because it’s too wet and too high in nitrogen. By sanitation.
adding a carbon-based material to the toilet after each use, the toilet contents can become balanced incarbon and nitrogen and the moisture level optimized for composting. The purpose of thermophilic composting is to subject the toilet materials to robust microbial activity which produces heat and bio-competition generated by compost microorganisms. This process has been scientifically proven to destroy
human pathogens, rendering the toilet material hygienically safe and achieving the true essence of "sanitation."2“Urine diversion,” the practice of diverting urine from the solids inside a toilet, can be counter-productive to compost sanitation because urine provides essential moisture and nitrogen required to offset
the dryness and carbon of the cover materials. When urine is removed from the toilet contents, it createsa dry organic mass that is deficient in moisture and nitrogen. This can retard the important thermophilic
phase of the compost.
The addition of paper products to the toilet is encouraged, such as toilet paper, toilet paper center
cardboard rolls, etc. There is no reason to separate these when using a humanure toilet. Paper or cotton-based feminine hygiene products can also be added to humanure toilets. Plastic components ofthese products will have to be manually removed from the finished compost since they do not decompose.
Humanure toilets can be designed for household use indoors or outdoors, for single person or family
Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20112

use, and for group use where many people gather, such as
refugee camps, villages, schools, orphanages, etc. They canalso be used as backup or emergency toilets when flush toilets are not available due to electricity outages or disaster
scenarios.
Figure 2 illustrates a 20-liter capacity humanure toilet
manufactured in Haiti. Under the toilet seat is the toilet receptacle where urine and feces are collected and covered
with amyris sawdust, sugar cane bagasse, or another locallyavailable plant cellulose material. The cover material, when
the texture and moisture content are correct and when it isused in adequate quantities, completely blocks odors andflies. When full, the toilet receptacle is removed from the toilet and set aside with a lid, to be collected and composted at Figure 2: Typical 20 liter capacity humanure toilet in Haiti made from plywood construction.
a separate location.
Figure 3 shows a 20-liter humanure toilet in use at a Haitian orphanage. The dark container to the left contains the
carbon-based cover material.
Figure 4 shows a humanure toilet with the receptaclecompletely exposed and ready for removal. When full, thereceptacle is removed from the toilet, covered with a lid andset aside for collection and composting.
Component #2 — The Cover Material: Carbon-based
cover materials are required for the humanure toilet system
to function successfully. These materials cover the contents
inside the toilets as well as the contents of the compost piles.
Enough cover material of the correct consistency and mois- Figure 3: Toilet contents are covered inside theture content is needed to totally and effectively eliminate odor receptacle with sawdust and/or bagasse. The
and flies. The correct amount of cover material can be 20-liter receptacle simply lifts out when full.
gauged by simply smelling the toilets or the compost piles. If
there is an offensive odor, more cover materials must be used. Likewise, if
flies can be seen accessing the contents of the toilet or the compost pile,
more cover material must be used.
The cover materials must originate from "carbon based" plant cellulosematerial in order to promote thermophilic composting. Cover materials canbe any somewhat dry plant material ground into the correct consistency,such as from coco coir, paper products, cardboard, even junk mail. One of
the most widely used cover materials, for example, is sawdust from trees.
Others include peat moss and rice hulls. Sugar cane bagasse, left over fromthe crushing and processing of sugar cane, is widely available in Haiti anduseful for compost sanitation systems. Sawdust from the manufacturing ofamyris oil is also being used as a cover material inside toilets in Haiti.
Availability of appropriate cover material is essential to the successful
operation of a compost sanitation system. The cover material must not be
too coarse. Wood chunks, for example, are inappropriate — even woodshavings are not ideal for use inside the toilets if they are airy and can allow
odor to escape. Wood shavings can inhibit thermophilic composting because Figure 4: The toilet receptacle is easily removable.

Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20113

the carbon can be relatively inaccessible to compost microorganisms when the wood particles are toolarge, although wood shavings can be used successfully in larger compost piles.
Wood ashes should never be used as a cover material, nor should lime (ground agricultural limestone). These mineral materials can inhibit microbial activity, whereas compost sanitation is designed
to increase microbial activity, not to inhibit it. Some believe that sanitation requires the killing of microorganisms because excrement can include pathogens. For this reason, they encourage the use of lime
and wood ashes in toilets. Although such materials do inhibit bacterial growth, they do not eliminate
pathogens. The best way to completely sanitize excrements is to encourage beneficial microbial populations, not discourage them. Increased microbial activity in a compost environment can fully sanitize
human excrements. They eliminate pathogens through microbial competition and internal heat developed by thermophilic microorganisms. Therefore, the goal of compost sanitation is to encourage andsupport robust microbial populations in the composting matrix. Sanitation and sterilization are entirely
different. Sterilization is the absence of anything living. Sanitation is the elimination of pathogenic organisms, or the reduction of their populations to the extent that they are not a threat to human health.
Composting sanitizes toilet material, it does not sterilize anything.
When the cover material is from an appropriate source and of appropriate consistency for use in the
toilet, the toilet contents can be covered such that no odor whatsoever escapes from the toilet. This enables the toilet to be located indoors, if desired. However, if appropriate cover materials are not available
or are not utilized, the toilet will emit unpleasant odors and attract flies. It is imperative to understandthat compost sanitation may not be appropriate for all people in all places and situations, any more thana flush toilet is. In woodland areas, tropical areas, or any location where sawdust and/or other similar
plant materials are available, the toilet works very well. Compost sanitation may not work in the Gobi
desert for example, without trucking in compostable cover materials. In areas where agricultural byproducts can be collected and stockpiled for use, such a sanitation system can also work well. The byproducts can include such things as grain chaff, pine needles, coffee grounds, distillery byproducts, cleanings
from woolen mills, paper products ground to the right consistency, etc.
Cover materials are required for the compost bins as well as for the toilets. The compost bin covermaterials can be drier and coarser than the toilet cover materials. They can include grasses, hay, straw,
pine needles, weeds, leaves, sugar cane bagasse or many other organic plant materials that are odorfree and do not attract flies. Such cover materials allow for the collection of large quantities of toilet materials in above-ground compost bins without creating unpleasant odors or attracting flies. They also
encourage an aerobic thermophilic microbial population by creating tiny interstitial air spaces in the compost piles. If appropriate cover materials are not available, a compost sanitation system is not recommended. If the cover materials are available in limited quantities, humanure toilets can be successfully
used in limited numbers.
The carbon-based cover materials balance the moisture and nitrogen in human excrement. This creates a desired “carbon to nitrogen ratio” that encourages reproduction of beneficial heat-producing microorganisms. By using enough cover material of the correct consistency to prevent odors from escaping
the humanure toilet system, the correct balance of carbon to nitrogen can automatically be achieved solong as urine is included. In addition, most food scraps and other organic materials available from humanactivity can be added to the humanure compost bins to achieve high-quality compost. Food scraps tend
to already be carbon/nitrogen balanced, so they can be added to humanure compost piles with great
benefit.
Cover materials must be kept dry in cold climates to prevent them from freezing.
Component #3 — The Compost Bins: All toilet materials that are collected must be composted in an
aerobic, thermophilic manner in order to become sanitized. This requires the depositing of the materials
into an above-ground compost bin. The purpose of the bin is to allow the piling of the collected material
Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20114

in such a manner that it is not accessible to children, animals orother vermin or insect vectors.
The bins contain and hold the compostable materials, effectively
creating an “in-vessel” composting environment (Figure 5). This
composting matrix is enveloped with clean cover materials on thetop, bottom and sides.This enables the heat that the compost generates to be confined inside the mass and not dissipate into the air
as in windrow composting. Temperature readings taken from various
points throughout the bin at different depths can be remarkably uniform.
Windrows, on the other hand, are open piles of compost thathave large surface to volume ratios (Figure 6). The surface area isso large that much of the compost is exposed to the air and does
not contain heat. These piles must be stirred regularly in order forthe entire compost mass to be subjected to the high internal temperatures. The stirring or turning is very labor intensive, releases Figure 5: Compost bins enclose andgasses, molds, spores and odors into the air, dissipates heat into contain the compost matrix, preventing
the heat from dissipating.
the environment, and causes the loss of organic matter.3
Compost sanitation, therefore, is based on the bin method, notthe windrow method. The compost inside the bins is never turnedor stirred. Once the bin is filled, it is left alone to “cook” without disturbance, for approximately one year. This method is simple, inexpensive and effective.
Compost bins should have four walls or at least be completely
surrounded in order to keep out dogs, goats, children, chickens, etc.
One wall can be removable to allow for access to the finished compost. A piece of wire fencing laid over the top of the active compost
pile will prevent animals from digging into the pile or scratching thecover material off the compost. Wire mesh around the sides and underneath the piles will prevent rats and other smaller vermin fromentering the piles.
The compost bin walls may be constructed of wood boards, ma- Figure 6: Compost windrows havesonry materials such as bricks, blocks or concrete; straw or hay large surface to volume ratios. The surbales, which can be reused as cover material after their function as faces remain cool and the piles must
be stirred regularly to subject all parts
side walls is completed; bamboo; poles or logs; wood shipping pal- of the compost matrix to the hot interlets turned on their sides, etc.
nal temperatures.
The bins are constructed with a "biological sponge" as the baselayer. The biosponge consists of plant materials such as straw, hay, weeds, grasses, etc., piled on thesoil in the bottom of the bin for the purpose of absorbing excess liquids that may collect when the pileis being constructed. The biosponge also creates a barrier between the soil and the compost. A
biosponge should also be built on top of the compost pile to absorb excess rainfall and prevent waterlogging of the pile. The top biosponge also keeps the compost pile from drying out in arid climates andacts as a thermal insulator, holding in heat. It prevents the release of odors and does not attract flies.
Cover materials should also be applied to the inside walls of the compost bins when toilet material isadded in order to provide an insulating organic layer between the toilet material and the bin walls.
The bins can be located on bare soil with the base shaped into a slightly concave configuration, allowing any liquid to pool into the center of the bin, thereby preventing leaching out the bottom onto thesoil surface should excess moisture be an issue. Sufficient dry material should be used in the biological
Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20115

sponge to absorb excess liquids.
Odorous organic materials should never be put “onto” a compost pile — they should always be put“into” the pile. “Into the pile” means moving the cover material aside using a designated compost tool,such as a hay fork or shovel, digging a depression into the top of the pile, and then adding the organic
material, which may be toilet material, food scraps or even animal mortalities.
Cover materials are added to the bin when odorous materials are added. This layering effect suppresses odor and discourages flies when the bin is being filled while creating a mixed organic matrix.
Once the thermophilic phase begins, liquid is rapidly absorbed by the extremely robust biological activity,
hence the benefit of urine. In arid climates, rain water or graywater can be used to moisten the compost
mass, if needed. The overall moisture content of the compost matrix is best controlled by adding a correct blend of materials. If wetter materials are being added, then more drier materials must be incorporated into the pile.
When these simple rules are followed, all food scraps can be added to the compost, including meat,bones, fat, oils and animal mortalities. Small dead animals such as chickens, ducks, etc. can be added
directly. Larger animals may require special treatment prior to composting. There is absolutely no needto segregate meat or animal material from a humanure compost system.
Bins can be constructed on concrete or other hard surfaces, although a soil base encourages beneficial soil organisms, including earth worms, to migrate into the compost pile. Soil will absorb moisture
whereas concrete will not. A drained base, such as a gravel bed or soakpit, is not recommended. The
object is to keep all of the organic material, including liquids, contained in the compost matrix. Somemoisture absorbing into the top couple inches of soil underneath a compost pile is not a problem, but
draining liquid into the subsoil can allow it to enter ground water, which could be a source of pollution.
Proper management of the compost pile is very important, therefore experience and education arestrongly recommended. Composting is as much an art as it is a science. The top of the compost pile
must be kept covered at all times with clean cover materials of sufficient quantity such that all unpleasantodors are eliminated. It is essential that the cover material be appropriate in consistency so that flies
cannot access the contents of the pile. For example, straw, grasses, leaves or hay scattered adequately
over the compost pile work well for this purpose. Very coarse materials, such as pond reeds, may not.
Compost operations can be executed in two basic manners: “batch” compost or “continuous” compost. Batch compost occurs when an entire compost bin is filled in a short period of time — perhaps ina few days, in a week or two, or even a few months. Continuous compost is when a compost bin isadded to continuously for a longer period of time, such as a year. In either case, after the bin is completely filled, the compost should be left adequately covered and undisturbed for approximately one
year, or until the internal temperature is equivalent to the average outdoor ambient temperature.
HOW THERMOPHILIC COMPOSTING WORKS
Thermophilic composting is the managed aerobic decomposition of organic matter that includes ahot phase dominated by heat-producing bacteria. The hot phase may last days, weeks or months, depending on factors such as the organic ingredients, the size of the compost mass, ambient temperatures,
geographic location and/or time of year, and moisture content, among others. Thermophilic temperatures
are generally in the range of 45 degrees C (113F) or hotter.
Much scientific research has been conducted regarding the efficacy of thermophilic compost to destroy human pathogens such as viruses, protozoa, intestinal worms, and bacteria. Research has shownthat human pathogens find the thermophilic environment hostile and that they will rapidly die off in suchan environment. When Westerberg and Wiley composted sewage sludge which had been inoculatedwith polio virus, Salmonella, roundworm eggs, and Candida albicans, they found that a compost temperature of 47-55C (116-130F) maintained for three days killed all of these pathogens.4 This research
Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20116

has been corroborated and expanded
by teams of scientists over generations. Most notable among these include Gotass (1956) of the World
Health Organization, Feachems et al.
(1980) of the World Bank, Shuval etal. (1981) of the World Bank, andFranceys et al. (1992) of the World
Health Organization.2
When processing sewage sludge,
which is not the same as humanure,but it is similar in that it includes
human excrement as a key ingredient,
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists composting
as one “Process to Further Reduce
Pathogens” or PFRP. When thisprocess is operated under specified
conditions, “pathogenic bacteria, enteric viruses, and viable helminth ova
are reduced to below detectable levels.” The specified conditions depend
on whether the compost is made in
vessels, static aerated piles, orwindrows. According to the EPA,
“Using either the within-vessel composting method or the static aerated
pile composting method, the temperature of the sewage sludge is maintained at 131F (55C) or higher for
three consecutive days. Using thewindrow composting method, the temperature of the sewage sludge ismaintained at 55C (131F) or higher for
fifteen consecutive days or longer.
During the period when the compost
is maintained at 55C (131F) or higher,
there shall be a minimum of five turnings of the windrow” for the compost
to be considered hygienically safe.5
Compost subjected to these conditions is considered “Class A” compost that can be used for any purpose and is often sold in bags of topsoil or potting soil in department stores in the US.6
When human excrement can be rendered hygienically safe through the elimination of pathogenicorganisms, the true essence of sanitation can be achieved. Refer to Table 1 for a partial list of pathogen
thermal death points.
Compost piles will undergo several stages of decomposition in addition to the thermophilic stage.
After the hot phase has subsided, the organic material will continue the process of biological degradation
Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20117

and transformation into humus aided by non-thermophilic microorganisms, macroorganisms such as
earthworms and other insects, and fungi. These additional stages allow for the further decomposition of
the organic material to produce a plant-friendly, agriculturally beneficial final product. The compostingprocess incorporates both the element of temperature and the element of time. Combined, they produce
an end product that is safe, sanitary, pleasant-smelling, stable, storable and can be used for growing
human food.
More information about this system is available via The Humanure Handbook, 3rd edition, which canbe read free at HumanureHandbook.com. The same website has a number of instructional video clips
showing humanure composting toilets and bins in use, both at a single family scale, larger scales andin Haiti. Video clips also show humanure toilet receptacles being emptied into a compost bin, humanurecompost being used for gardening and planting trials, etc. There is also a public forum where people
from around the world discuss issues and exchange information about compost sanitation systems.
SMALL-SCALE SYSTEMS
Many humanure toilet systems in the U.S., U.K, Australia and Canada utilize 20 liter toilet receptacles
often made from nothing more than simple 5-gallon plastic buckets. The toilet cabinets are built to fit
the receptacles. For convenience, several toilet receptacles should be available for use, one at a time.
As each one fills with toilet material (fecal material, urine, toilet paper and cover material), it is set aside
with a lid on it and an empty receptacle is put in its place. The set-aside receptacles, after they’re removed from the toilet, can also be used for depositing food scraps. It is not advisable to add food scraps
to a humanure toilet in use as it can promote the breeding of fruit flies. When enough full toilet receptacles have collected, they are taken to a compost site and the contents deposited into a compost bin. If
the receptacles are being collected by a dedicated composting crew, which is recommended, then any
number of full toilet receptacles may accumulate and be stored until collection time. Composting will
not occur inside the toilets.
After emptying the receptacles, they are rinsed. A tiny amount of liquid soap and a long-handled
toilet brush will aid in cleaning the receptacle. The rinse water can be used to clean other receptacles
in order to conserve water. All rinse water is added to the compost pile, soap included. Alternatively, thereceptacles can utilize “biodegradable plastic” bag liners, which will largely eliminate the need for cleaning inside the receptacle after emptying it.
In general, one 20-liter toilet receptacle can provide enough toilet capacity to service one adult for
one week if the correct cover material is used. Bulky cover materials such as wood shavings do notmask odor effectively and a greater quantity may be needed, filling the toilet more rapidly. Excessive
use of toilet paper will also cause the toilet to fill more rapidly. Sawdust has the ideal consistency for
toilet cover material, although sawdust that is completely dry will benefit from moistening before use.
Not only does a finer, slightly damp cover material mask odor effectively, but it also promotes bettercomposting because the woody particles are smaller and easier to break down by microorganisms. Ina family of four using appropriate cover materials, four 20-liter receptacles may be needed per week. If
the compost bin is not inconveniently far from the toilet and the toilet receptacles are not allowed tofreeze, the weekly emptying and cleaning of four receptacles takes about 20 minutes. Alternatively, thetoilet receptacles may be filled, set aside with lids, then collected by a compost service and processed
at a central location by trained composters. The author’s humanure toilet system has been continuallyin use in the same location since 1979. During that time, all household toilet material, along with all
kitchen scraps, garden weeds, yard materials, animal mortalities, meats, bones, fats, oils, liquids andother organic materials have been recycled through the compost sanitation system.

Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20118

THE AMURT SCHOOL — PORT AU PRINCE, HAITIThe Amurt School in post-earthquake Port au Prince, Haiti (AmurtHaiti.org), offers a good example
of a compost sanitation system in use. Amurt, a “green” school, consists of 11 pavilions and 22 classrooms, 8 composting toilets, 8 rainwater catchment systems, a reservoir, two composting sites, a tree
nursery, a permaculture demonstration site and organic gardens. Two agronomists and three technicians
provide classes and demonstrations of urban permaculture, focusing on the 820 children attending thepreschool and after school programs, their parents, and the women’s and youth groups. Here, students
utilize two toilet stalls, each with four toilets (Figure 7). The private toilet stalls have chutes through thefloor (Figure 8). The receptacles, located underneath the floor, have a capacity of approximately 60
liters (Figure 9). They can easily be replaced with empty receptacles when full. Sugar cane bagasse
and amyris wood sawdust are utilized as cover materials. The system produces approximately eight60-liter containers of toilet material every three days. This volume fills
a compost bin measuring 1.5 meters wide, 2.0 meters long and 1.0
meter high, every three months (Figure 10).

Figure 8 (right):
This lady keeps thetoilets clean at the
Amurt School. The
toilet material enters the below-floor
receptacle throughthe white chute.

Figure 7 (above): A toilet stall at the Amurt school, located next
to the compost bins.

Figure 9 (above): 60 liter receptacles slide out from underneath the toilet stalls.

Figure 10 (above): Each bin holds approximately threemonths’ worth of toilet and food material.

Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 20119

Food scraps are added to the compost bin twice a day. Temperatures in the nearly full active compost
bin were measuring approximately 60C or 140F (Figure 11). A bin that had been aging for six months
was still reading 55C (131F).
The compost bins are adjacent to the toilet stalls, allowing the contents to be conveniently composted
without the need to transport the toilet material. The system is devoid of unpleasant odor and flies are
not a problem. A hand washing station is conveniently located next to the toilet stall (Figure 12).
The self-managed compost sanitation system has a dedicated crew of three persons: one woman
who cleans the compost receptacles and two men who manage the composting (Figure 13). They arepaid by the school. In Figure 13, the nearer bin has reached maturity and is being used in the gardens.
The far bin has been aging for 6 months and is still at approximately 55C. It will require months more tocool down and reach maturity.

Figure 11: Temperatures measured
ranged from 46C (115F) to over 74C(165F). Fluctuations varied according tosize of pile, age and contents.
Figure 13: Two men manage the compost
Figure 12: Hand washing stations are sanitation system at the Amurt School.
an important part of the system.

When toilet receptacles are full, the contents are deposited into a compost bin. First, the cover material in the bin is raked back, then a depression is dug into the top of the compost pile (Figure 14). The
toilet material is added into the depression (Figure 15) and the cover material is raked back over the
fresh deposit (Figure 16).

Figure 14: The compost pile is opened
before fresh toilet material is added.

Figure 15: The toilet material is emptied into the pile.
Figure 16: Cover material is raked
back over the fresh deposit.

Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 201110

The toilet receptacle is rinsed with water (Figure 17) and the water is dumped into the compost pile
(Figure 18). New cover material is added (Figure 19).

Figure 18: The rinse water is dumped into Figure 19: Clean cover material is deposited over the top of the pile.
the pile.

Figure 17: The receptacle is rinsed.

The compost must undergo a prolonged aging period of approximately a year after it is collected,
otherwise the compost will be immature and phytotoxic (it will kill plants). Maturity is reached when thecompost pile cools down and the internal temperature is approximately the same as average ambient(outdoor) temperature. At this point, the compost should be suitable for growing food. It can be tested
by planting a seed, such as a squash or cucumber, in a sample of the compost.
Posters explaining the proper use of the toilets are displayed in the toilet stalls (Figure 20). Community training seminars are provided by GiveLove.org (Figure 21).
There is no waste in this system. Instead, where other sanitation systems produce sewage and pollution, compost sanitation produces fertile soil and food for humanity (Figure 22).

Figure 20: Posters describing the correct
way to use the toilets are posted in every
toilet stall.

Figure 21: Community training seminars
that teach local residents about ecologicalsanitation are provided by GiveLove.org.

Figure 22: Mature compost is an excellent soil additive.

Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 201111

OTHER HAITIAN EXAMPLES
Many Haitians do not have the luxury of ecological sanitation
systems and instead must use pit latrines. These are very odorous,
fly infested, maggot-breeding holes in the ground which children
can fall into. They’re unpleasant to say the least, they pollute
ground water, and the flies can spread disease. Figure 23 provides
an example of a typical pit latrine in use at a Habitat for Humanity
site in Leogane.
As an alternative to pit latrines, portable toilets are sometimes
provided. However, these often fill up and remain unemptied. They
then become very odorous and fly-infested and are shunned by the
local population who would rather practice open defecation thanwalk into a stinky portable toilet. Figure 24 shows such a toilet inCite Soleil. Feces are scattered on the ground around the toilet because the children would not go inside.

Figure 23: A typical Haitian pit latrine in
Leogane at a Habitat for Humanity site isfilthy and unpleasant. The toilet smells
terrible, breeds maggots and flies, creates waste and pollutes ground water.

Figure 24: A portable
toilet in Cite Soleil
next to a medical
clinic fills up and remains unattended. It
is so unpleasant thatthe local children
defecate openly on
the ground around thetoilets rather than goinside.

ORFELINAT ENFANT DE L'ESPOIR OR"CHILDREN OF HOPE” ORPHANAGEThe Orfelinat Enfant de L'Espoir or "Children of Hope” Orphanage in Leogane has acompost sanitation system very similar to the
Amurt School. The stalls are located near thecompost bins (Figure 25); inside each stall is aposter describing how to use the toilet. Thereis a rain water catchment system on the toilet
building which provides water for washing toilet
receptacles and for hand washing. Both 20 liter
Figure 25: The toilets at the Matt Gunn orphanage site are locatedadjacent to the compost bins. There is no odor and no flies. A and 60 liter receptacles are used. The 20 literbagasse pile nearby provides the cover materials.
Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 201112

toilets are meant for the smaller children while the 60 liter toilets are meant for the bigger children andadults. The toilet receptacles are located inside the toilet stalls, which are inside a small building adorned
with a painting of the “human nutrient cycle” (Figure 26). The receptacles are removed from the inside.
The 20 liter receptacle lifts out while the 60 liter receptacle slides out. Figure 27 illustrates the 60 liter
toilet and Figure 28 illustrates the 20 liter toilet.

Figure 26 (above): The orphanage toilet is painted with a picture of the “human nutrient
cycle” as well as a “GiveLove ecological sanitation” emblem. The rain water catchment
system provides wash water for hands and toilet receptacles. GiveLove.org provided
the setup and training for this self-managed compost sanitation system.

Figure 27: The Children of Hope toilets utilize 20 liter and 60 liter receptacles. This 60-liter receptacle
simply slides out of the toilet whenfull, then a lid is placed on the receptacle until it is emptied.
Figure 28 (left): Twenty liter
receptacles provide smaller
toilets for young children.

Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 201113

THE SOPUDEP SCHOOL IN PETIONVILLE, HAITIHarry Ha of Partners With Haiti and the Toronto Haiti Action Committee travelled to Haiti in February
and March, 2011 to lead the installation of four composting toilets at the Sopudep School. GiveLove.org
aided their endeavors. The sanitation system utilizes 20 liter receptacles and is self-managed by school
personnel, serving 500 children when school is in session. The stall has a painting of the human nutrient
cycle on the outer wall for educational purposes (Figure 29). The compost bins are immediately adjacentto the toilet building and the bagasse supply is nearby. Bagasse is also stored next to the toilets in wallmounted dispensers (Figure 30). Rain water is collected and provided for hand washing (Figure 31).

Figure 29 (above): The toilet system at
the Sopudep School utilizes the sameprocedures as Amurt and Matt Gunn.
Figure 30 (right): Sopudep uses 20 liter
receptacles that lift out of the toilet whenfull. The bagasse is dispensed by handfrom the green wall-mounted bin.

Figure 31 (above): Sopudep’s toilet
building includes a hand washingstation supplied by rain water.

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH COMPOST SANITATION SYSTEMSInadequate information, training, understanding and knowledge can make compost sanitation systems problematic. This is compounded by fear of fecal material. People who are not comfortable withalternative sanitation and who aren’t serious and conscientious should not be managing humanure toilet
systems. There should be a dedicated compost crew who understands and cares about what they’re
doing when compost sanitation is undertaken.
Correct and adequate cover materials must be used.
Some people simply expect toilets to smell bad. They cannot
imagine that a toilet can be odor-free — a result easily obtained by humanure toilets when correct cover materials areused in adequate quantities.
The basic management procedure is simple enough: if
bad odors are smelled or flies are attracted to the toilet or thecompost bins, then more cover material must be used. A conscientious compost sanitation manager will easily understandthis and will be able to maintain an odor-free, sanitary sys- Figure 32: This compost is being mismanaged.
There should be nothing visible but clean covertem.
material on top. Instead, the compost was odorFigure 32 shows a mismanaged compost pile at an Amer- ous and was breeding maggots. The few secican relief agency site in Port au Prince. Note that the com- onds it would have taken to throw clean cover
post pile has inadequate cover material on top. There should material on the pile would have eliminated theodors and maggots.

Sanitation by Composting — Joseph Jenkins — September, 201114

be nothing visible but the cover material — no flies, no maggots, no food, no toilet material — and there
should be no unpleasant odors. This pile was odorous and was breeding maggots when it could simply
have been covered over adequately and these deficiencies avoided. The problem at this site was caused
by a frequent turn-over of volunteers such that a dedicated compost crew was not available. Continuityof training was not maintained and the proper maintenance of the compost system fell to the wayside.
Although GiveLove.org had set up this system, they had to remove their toilets from the site in 2012
due to mismanagement.
All toilet wash water must go into the compost piles and not be dumped anywhere else. The system
is to be kept “closed” in order to keep human excrement from polluting the environment. It is importantthat humanure toilets be kept indoors in a heated area in cold climates; otherwise the contents of thereceptacles can freeze and will not be able to be emptied. Frozen receptacles can also crack and leak.
Compost bins can be located too far from the toilet area. This can make the job of emptying toilet receptacles burdensome and unpleasant if the toilet receptacles must be moved by hand, or expensive ifotherwise transported. There is no reason to situate the compost bins far away. If they are adequately
managed and covered, there is no odor. People who fear human excrement assume the compost bins
will stink and will put them so far away from the toilet as to be impractical. This is a recipe for failure.
The solution is to use enough cover material in the bins to prevent odors from escaping no matter where
the bins are located.
CONCLUSION
Compost sanitation systems can provide safe and pleasant toilet alternatives in developing countries
where electricity, water or money are in short supply, so long as carbon-based cover materials are available and compost sanitation personnel are conscientious and trainable. Compost sanitation systems
are already in use in developed nations where users are motivated by the desire to prevent pollution
and to produce compost for growing plants. The fact that compost sanitation systems are waste-free
and instead produce compost suitable for growing human food should make this an attractive sanitation
alternative anywhere in the world.
ABOUT
Joseph Jenkins is best known for authoring the Humanure Handbook — A Guide to Composting Human Manure — firstpublished in 1995 and now in its 3rd edition. The book has been sold worldwide and published in foreign editions on fourcontinents. He has been a compost practitioner in the United States since 1975 and has grown his family’s food with humanure compost continually since 1979. His web site at HumanureHandbook.com offers videos, instructions and the complete
Humanure Handbook free of charge. Jenkins also provides humanure sanitation consulting services internationally. Moreinformation about the author can be found at JosephJenkins.com. GiveLove.org was founded by Patricia Arquette andRosetta Getty. Its project coordinator is Alisa Keesey and its primary educator in Haiti is Jean Lucho.

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