Shopping Can Help: Composting Toilet

What is a composting toilet?

Some of you may already know what these are, or considered buying one for your camp.

Others may find this idea a little unsettling, as the thought of composting your own sewage sounds, well...gross!

Composting toilets help the environment by effectively converting human waste into helpful and clean soil.

They use little or no water, are not connected to expensive sewage systems, cause no environmental damage and produce a valuable resource for gardening.




By now you may be asking, "What's so wrong with the toilet I have now?" Well, there are a few things.

Besides pit toilets, present toilet systems are either “sewered systems” or on-site “septic or mini-treatment systems.”
Both are based on the principle of using water to transfer the “wastes” to a treatment system. Whether this is a septic tank just outside the house, or a sewage treatment plant 10 miles away, both must treat a large volume of raw effluent.

This historical use of water to “cleanse” away the toilet wastes is where the first problem occurs.

Raw sewage starts to break down by a process that utilises oxygen within the water.

Once this oxygen has been used up, the breakdown of sewage is changed to microorganisms that perform anaerobic (non-oxygen) respiration.

The byproducts of anaerobic respiration are nutrient-rich effluent and flammable methane and other foul smelling gases. This is the traditional smell associated with septic tanks and sewage treatment plants.

 In many cases around the world, untreated effluent is left to run down natural streams and rivers into lakes and oceans. The high nutrient value of the effluent causes algal blooms in these waterways, which as they die and are decomposed by microbes which use up the dissolved oxygen in the water. This in turn reduces dissolved oxygen levels which kills marine animals.
The effects can be quite devastating up the marine food chain.

The waste of another natural resource, clean water, is another problem.

Building expensive dams, piping water hundreds of miles, treating it with expensive processes, and then using 40% of this treated water to flush away a small quantity of human byproducts is utter madness.

Overall, the present system of treating “humanure” is a wasteful and expensive burden on our communities and the environment. To reverse this system, and build a sustainable systems of “waste” re-utilisation is possible using systems such as composting toilets.

The many benefits of using a composting toilet include:

1.Water Use Reduction (20-50%)
.
2.Odour Problems Reduced
The suction air flow in most composting toilets takes toilet and bathroom odor out of the room and acts like a constant extraction fan.
3.Lower Household Maintenance Costs
Draining (around $100) and eventual renewal (in the thousands) of septic tanks is not necessary..
4.End Product Recycled
While only small in amount, the solid end product is a valuable fertilizer that can be utilised around trees and gardens.


Recycling
The composting toilet possesses the ability to recycle much of your household waste. Food scraps, paper, lawn clippings and grease from you grease traps can be composted back through the toilet.
Unusual Sites
Composting toilets can be installed in many different situations which would not accommodate other systems. Rocky sites, high water table, no water storage, environmentally sensitive, close to running watercourses, and swampy ground. All these difficult site situations can be accommodated with a small amount of alteration to the basic system design.

Benefits to the Community & the Environment

Together with the personal benefits of the composting toilet there are overall benefits to the society and the environment.
Water Use
A reduction in water use allows the large capital costs of dams and reservoirs to be spread over a greater population. It also enables decentralised water sources to be used.
Reduced Marine Pollution
Nutrient load on streams and rivers is almost negligible. This results in more oxygen being available in the water and a return to improved activity of marine life.
Pollution Detected Quickly
Without sewage systems to flush away wastes, It would be easier to ascertain where toxic wastes are being leaked into watercourses. Industry would be more willing to rectify these problems if it were easier to identify the sources.
Damage Limited
Miscalculation in individual composting systems has a much smaller impact than the same mistake in a large centralised system. It is also easier to rectify and return to normal operation.
Less Environmental Impact
Compared to sewage systems, on-site composting treatment has less impact on the environment:
• Large effluent releases into watercourses and oceans are avoided.
• Disruption to soils systems through pipeline installation is eliminated.
• Leakage of raw sewage into groundwater through pipe deterioration and breakage is eliminated.

 How do they work?

There are 2 types of composting toilet systems:

BATCH SYSTEMS

With the batch systems, a container is filled and then replaced with an empty container. The composting process is completed inside the sealed container. The system may have a single, replaceable container. Or it may be a carousel system where 3 or 4 containers are mounted on a carousel and a new container is spun into the toilet area when the other is full. After a full cycle is complete, the first container is fully composted and ready for emptying.

 

CONTINUAL PROCESS SYSTEMS

 These systems are in a constant state of composting. Waste enters the system, composting reduces the volume and moves it downward where it is harvested after 6-12 months as fully composted material.

An example of one sold at Home Depot for $1449:

All Sun-Mar composting toilets incorporate a patented Bio-drum™ which ensures fast and odourless decomposition. Saves thousands of gallons of water, while recycling waste into safe, usable soil. The unit is shipped fully assembled. To install, simply plug into a regular 110V outlet and connect the supplied 2 inch vent stack. Seasonal capacity: 3 adults or families of 4. Residential use: 1 adult or family of 2 (there are larger capacity toilets)





Installation

The installation of a composting toilet requires a venting pipe to be installed that connects to the outside to eliminate odours, and for most older models, you will need a liquid (urine) overflow drain that connects to a tank or goes outside into the ground.

The remainder, dried solids and toilet paper, is easily lifted out and stored outdoors for 6 months inside the container. This process inactivates human pathogens, so that it can harmlessly be composted or buried, in order to decompose fully. The end product is an organic fertilizer in your flower garden.
 Composting toilets are well suited for cabins and camps with a lake nearby that you fish in, as using a composting toilet there will eliminate contamination to the fish you eat and water you use at the camp.

Home installation would require a little more work and dedication, as it is used more often.

There is also a new type of composting toilet becoming available that separates urine and feces and makes a more efficient system. Here is the link: Separatt toilets

Here is a video that shows the finished product soil from a composting toilet and the lady explains a bit about them as well:

What is a CSA?

A CSA is community supported agriculture.

 
CSA's focus on producing high quality foods for a local community and they often use organic farming methods, which are better for the environment. Organic farming methods use all natural techniques to help produce naturally healthy crops. Where as industrial agriculture uses chemical pesticides and fertilizers in there crop production. These chemicals often leach into the ground water and can have harmful effects on the environment.

Most commonly, they provide a system of food sharing to the consumer for the duration of the growing season. The consumer typically gets a whole season budget for a set number of weeks. The grower and consumer take part in a common-pricing system where they can negotiate the prices and jointly accept the budget. The system provides a guaranteed market for the farmers and it allows for the financing of the farming operation throughout the year. The consumer and growers then both accept the risk and reward of the growing season. 

Vegetables and fruit are the most common CSA crops. However the consumer is only able to purchase what is locally grown. Generally the local CSA will provide delivery, pick-ups or have drop off places weekly or monthly for subscribers. Locally the Algoma Food Network has documented the growth of the local CSA's in the area. An article is available online titled "Community Supported Agriculture" here is the link. 

 Why they are important:

CSA's are another way to reduce the amount of pesticides and chemicals that are brought into our lives through mainstream farming and it reduces the amount of carbon emissions because fresh produce doesn't have to be transported from far away destinations. Also it helps out the local economy.

So if anyone is interested in CSA's locally or needs more info let us know, we want to hear from you.

You can join a CSA by talking to local farmers at the Algoma Farmer's Market, site with info is here

Here is a link to a local farm that sells antibiotic ad hormone free meat: Penokean Hill Farms

Why is antibiotic and hormone free meat better? 

Because of crowding, stress-inducing conditions, and unnatural diets that often occur in the conventional meat and dairy industries, antibiotics are needed to fend off disease. In addition to antibiotics, animals are also given growth hormones— to stimulate year-round high production of milk, for instance. It is estimated that as much as 80-90% of all antibiotics given to humans and animals are not fully digested or broken down and eventually pass through the body and enter the environment intact through wastewater and runoff. When bacteria in the environment interact with these antibiotics, they may transform into more resistant strains that pose a greater risk to both animals and humans. By choosing hormone-free and antibiotic-free meat and dairy products, you can help keep the environment clean and healthy.

The use of rBGH (a hormone that is injected) in cows to increase milk production has shown to cause an alarming rise in the number of deformed calves and dramatic increases in mastitis, a painful bacterial infection of the udder which causes inflammation, swelling, and pus and blood secretions into milk. To treat mastitis outbreaks, the dairy industry relies on antibiotics. Critics of rBGH point to the subsequent increase in antibiotic use (which contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistant bacteria).

Milk from rBGH-treated cows contains higher levels of IGF-1 (Insulin Growth Factor-1). Humans also naturally have IGF-1, and increased levels in humans have been linked to colon and breast cancer.

These are good reasons to buy organic and local meat and dairy products, and support your local economy!

Kerry will be attending the Farmer's Market soon and documenting it for the blog. Keep reading!

Tips on driving 'Eco Friendly'

Greetings to all band-members and non band members, my name is Shred_bear and I will be contributing posts to the Garden River Green Plan Blog. I am a Fanshawe College student in the Motive Power Technician - Diesel Truck/Coach program, this weeks post will include how you can be an 'Eco Friendly' Driver. Fossil fuels are the primary cause of Global Warming and millions of humans contribute to the deteriorating health of our planet daily by burning gasoline. Here are a few simple tips for vehicle owners by which they can reduce their 'Ecological Footprint.'

- Obey the speed limit and avoid sudden starts and stops. The faster you accelerate the more gasoline is required to provide the necessary torque to move your car.

- As a general rule of thumb, keep your engine speeds between 1,200--3,000 RPMs, and up-shift between 2,000--2500 RPMs if you have standard transmission.

- Make sure to check your tire air pressure as often as possible. For every 4 PSI of under-inflation, your fuel consumption increases by about two percent.

- Make sure to replace your air filter when need be. Restriction of air to the cylinder (possibly caused by a dirty air filter) can cause the cars computer to increase the air/fuel mixture causing increased fuel consumption.

- Repair air conditioner leaks immediately some AC units contain chlorofluorocarbons which are very bad for the environment.

- Maintain a steady speed If you do a lot of highway driving, consider using your car’s cruise control function. A steady speed decreases gas pedal activity, which saves on fuel.

- Avoid Idling for prolonged periods of time. It is common belief that it takes more fuel to start up the vehicle rather than letting it idle for a few minutes. It actually takes more fuel to start up if you're going to be waiting for more than thirty seconds than if you just shut your car off.

- Get rid of any unnecessarily heavy items in your car such as: tools and hockey equipment

- Driving with fuel economy in mind, or eco-driving, can increase the distance you travel with every tank; track your fuel economy.

- Invest in G-Oil, a new eco friendly engine oil developed in San Francisco. After extensive testing and research, it is finally being marketed for public retail. The Green Earth Technology had this to say about their new product: 

"Change your oil, change the world with Environment Safe, ULTIMATE BIODEGRADABLE* G-OIL® GREEN Motor Oil, the world's first and only American Petroleum Institute's (API) "SM" Certified bio-based motor oil. We blend nature's American grown base oils (domestically sourced beef tallow) with nanotechnology to provide superior performance protection during the maximum oil change intervals recommended by vehicle manufactures while meeting or exceeding requirements.

Our bio base-synthetic G-OIL is the GREEN SOLUTION for gasoline engines, providing better protection for automotive engines under the toughest driving conditions NATURALLY BETTER THAN SYNTHETICS.

Whether "topping off" or returning your used motor oil to a collection center, G-OIL is compatible with all other motor oils."
 Additional information tabs on the website go on to show how using this natural product breaks down in the earth if not properly disposed of.

"According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, over 40% of our nation’s oil pollution comes from the improper disposal of used motor oil by Do-It-Yourselfers.
One five quart oil change improperly disposed can:

• create an oil slick on the surface of ten acres (about ½ million square feet),
• render five acres (about ¼ million square feet) unusable for planting for decades,
• and, contaminate one million gallons (a year supply for 50 people) of water.

Green Earth Technologies’ products, including G-OIL,  are made from American grown base oils, achieving an Ultimate Biodegradability ranking form the ASTM standard D5864 which defines 'Ultimate Biodegradable' as a product that is rapidly absorbed (eaten) by microorganisms by 60% in 28 days.  G-Oil proudly exceeds those standards."

Here are a few different examples of the new environmentally friendly motor oil


 ~
SB

Intro

Boozhoo Kina Gwaya, Aniish ezhi-bimaadiziiyik? Hello everyone. How are you all? My name is Deb Pine, I am another summer student with the Green Plan. I am going into my third year at Algoma University, in the Community Economic and Social Development Program. Have a great day!

Green Gift Ideas

Father's Day is coming up!

 Or, do you know someone who loves pop?

Reduce waste and have fun with this Sodamaker kit!




It's available at Sears in the Station Mall and online. My husband showed interest in it and at first I thought it was silly, but it is a fun and less wasteful way of enjoying pop!








 It comes with a bunch of different flavours!

Small Changes: Can You Do Any of These?

Here is a list of small changes that help the environment from this site.

Are you able to do any of these things? Maybe you already are.

1. Eat more vegetables.
2. Use energy efficient lightbulbs.
3. Turn off the lights.
4. Use re-usable bags
5. Dry clothes on a clothes line
6. Cover your pots while cooking (who knew?)
7. Choose products with less packaging.
8. Unplug things that aren't in use.
9. Grow your own vegetables and/or herbs
10. Support your local farmer's market (and people in GR who sell eggs and vegetables!)
11. Eat less meat.
12. Recycle!
13. Give up soft drinks, and bottled water.
14. Print on both sides of the paper.
15. Shower quickly.
16. Educate yourself on the environment (read this blog!)
17. Switch to natural cleaners! (and save money)
18. Switch back to using bar soaps.
19. Use a travel mug in the drive through and at work!
20. Pick up litter.
21. Block junk mail by contacting your postal worker
22. Use glass ware instead of plastic tupperware, avoid saran wrap
23. Use less energy during peak hours (do your laundry at night)
24. Choose biodegradable products (such as garbage bags)
25.Buy recycled paper products.

And that's just a few!

Are you already doing some of these things? Leave a comment!

 Your Green Planners cleaning the local playground. Have pride in your community, and keep it clean!

Shopping Can Help: Organic Cotton

Ever wonder what the big deal is with organic cotton?

The difference between organic and regular cotton is that organic cotton is grown and harvested without the use of herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides.

 The negative effects of these chemicals are well known, and includes the death of other plants, animals, and higher cancer, miscarriage and birth defect rates in people and animals near sites where herbicides were used. Many First Nations have banned the Canadian Government from using herbicides and pesticides on or near their traditional lands. Many home-use pesticides and herbicides have been taken off the shelves in recent years due to the risks associated with them. But others are still widely used in the U.S. and Canada.

An excerpt from this site: 

"Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of insecticides on 3 percent of our arable land; that's more than any other crop per unit.
That adds up to 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for a t-shirt, and 3/4 of a pound for a pair of jeans. And that's just not bad for the planet; 20,000 deaths occur each year from pesticide poisoning in developing countries, many of these from cotton farming, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Organic cotton on the other hand, uses agricultural methods designed to help sustain the land it grows on, and protects the people and wildlife around it from harmful effects...

Composting, frequent crop rotations and cover crop strategies replace synthetic fertilizers to keep the soil healthy and productive.

Weeds are controlled by innovative farm machinery, hand labor or flame devices rather than herbicide applications. Rather than attempting to eradicate all insects with chemicals, organic farmers cultivate a diversity of natural enemies which prey on insect pests, and lure pests away from cotton by planting trap crops."




In the Sault, you can find organic clothing at The Rad Zone, Boat House, and West 49 for the same price as regular cotton.

Do you know of any other stores that sell organic cotton?