ESD Compost

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Latest News

AccuRATE V1.1.3.0

The latest version of 2nd Gen BTP Assessment tools has been released.

DoP agree to a new Pilot to commence early February 2007.

BASIX (DIY) Review

ABSA instrumental in securing DoP DIY Sustainability Tool - DoP Review...not independent but a starting point 

Visit the ABSA Site for further details.

DIY found to lower the standard of Residential Building BTP in NSW - varies between 200% to 400% below Simulation Method when compared with NatHERS and far more variation expected to AccuRATE.

 

 

 

ESD Compost - household waste

Remote and indeed urban communities come into contact with elements requiring environmental action most frequently through initiatives at local and government levels where these initiatives are aimed at reducing household waste through recycling.

Recycling is the last stand in waste minimisation practices which start with "refuse", and move through less stringent measures such as "re-use" and "reduce" to the last step of "recycle".

Compost is the on-site waste recycling process similar to the off-site authority waste removal  of material categories such as glass/metals/papers/ and recyclable plastics.

Composting on-site deals with recycling waste to produce renewable biological materials.

Within buildings, effective recycling including composting depends on conveniently positioned internal receptacles for segregated wastes and a clear destination for on-site compost material being reused.

In residential situations this includes vermin proof and odour sealed containers in relation to waste produced by kitchen activities.

Sullage Waste treatment

In treatment terms, composting has a role to play. While non-septic wastes can be dealt with in biological systems septic wastes can either be disposed below ground in conventional septic systems, sand filter or aerobic systems treatment and discharges (refer Health Commission standards); or they can be treated for re-use through compost toilets.

 
Effluent for Composting

 

Compost Toilets


Commercial systems are available, technical details are provided by the manufacturers, such as Clivus Multrum, Dowmus, Roto-loo, Natureloo, as so on.

On-site constructed systems can have also been developed.

The purpose of compost toilets is to retain septic wastes and treat these in-situ in a chamber with microbe action to convert the solids to garden fertilisers for reuse.

Moisture in the chamber is treated by evaporation and vented, or by drain to a solar enclosure and evaporated. Odours are controlled by reduced pressure in chamber and enclosure creating a continuous airflow from building interior to upper air vent outlet out of the chamber.

Some commercial systems feature single chamber with throughflow of wastes from toilet to fertiliser removal hatch others rotate a number of drums where active waste is separate from chamber open to fertiliser removal hatch.

Compost toilets normally have a sizeable height difference between toilet floor level and external lower fertiliser removal level. The small volume Biolet is the exception.

Larger systems therefore are either suited to sloping site locations, or where the toilet floor is raised above outside ground level.

Summary - depending on local conditions a variety of approaches is available:-

  • A separate above ground on-site constructed compost toilet.
  • A Biolet accessible from within the building.
  • Projects having raised floor levels to accommodate multi-drum Rotaloo installations.
Because the compost system deals with septic and solid wastes in most projects a separate sullage 'grey' water treatment and re-use system is also designed to accommodate the sullage.

 

 

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Last Modified: Sunday, 21 January 2007 10:57:37 AM