Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 07:41:00 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Portable Toilets - Which chemicals do you use?
In-Reply-To: <B44275B7-8898-4619-ACAD-6F4BCCE14843@shaw.ca>
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Hi Allistair, thanks for mentioning this. I have thought about it. The moss is a major commodity used in horticulture and gardening, and by florists, and I've seen some discussion in conservation minded publications of bog damage. Seems there is an environmental loss in everything we do. I really don't know the environmental trade-offs between using the moss, or using something from a factory. The stuff I use comes from a local gardening store and is marketed as an "organic" soil amendment. I know that it is used in waterless toilets installed in locales where sewage facilities don't exist, but have not looked into buying from suppliers to waterless toilet users, as I use such a little amount.
Definitely something to think about, but right now I don't know how to get the data to know how much destruction is wrought by my way in comparison to the chemical way. Is there a source for sphagnum that is bog friendly? I think I read in a Sierra Club publication that there are mines that extract the material only from inactive bogs. But, how could one find out, and thus "be careful"? Thanks again, mcneely
---- Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> You have to be careful where the moss comes from, you wouldn't want to
> be party to the destruction of sphagnum moss bogs. Its not a joke even
> if it sounds like one.
>
> :)
>
> alistair
>
>
> On 28-Jan-11, at 5:07 PM, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>
> > Like I said earlier, I use sphagnum moss. It doesn't interfere with
> > the later proper composting of the wastes, and it imparts no odor of
> > its own. But it will prevent odors from escaping from the waste.
> > For me and those who accompany me in my travels, we just dump in a
> > two yogurt cups of moss before, and a cup or two on top as needed
> > after. No mess (well, no mess that won't fall cleanly out of the
> > bag at disposal, if disposal is done in a timely fashion -- but I do
> > dispose of the bag each time I empty the waste). Your mileage may
> > vary, since people are different sizes and have different
> > physiologies. No water is better, too. I find the bucket and bag
> > far superior to any of the portable flush toilets available. Less
> > troublesome to clean up, no nasty water, and no chemicals to fool
> > with. If I did switch from the moss, it would be to the Wag Bag
> > system. mcneely
>
--
David McNeely
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