costa rica summer 2006 rainforest ecology and the natural history of costa rica
DESCRIPTION
Natural Environment Take exploratory hikes in both the day and night Observe and identify plant and animal lifeTRANSCRIPT
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Costa Rica Summer 2006
rainforest ecology and the natural history of costa rica
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Aims and Objectives1) Engage with the natural environment of
Costa Rica
2) Study sustainability through the use of composting toilets
3) Experience the rich culture of Costa Rica
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Natural Environment• Take exploratory
hikes in both the day and night
• Observe and identify plant and animal life
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Rich Culture• Participate in a
homestay• Interact with the
locals
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Sustainability• Gain a basic
understanding of how composting toilets work
• Understand the significance and ecological impacts of the composting toilets at Rancho Mastatal
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Stop. Think. Recycle…
Sustainability through the Use of Composting Toilets
human feces?
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“The idea of waste, of something unusable, reveals an incomplete
understanding of how things work. Nature admits no waste.
Nothing is left over; everything is joined in the spiral of life.”
- Sim Van der Ryn
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A new way to recycle?• “Waste” → a resource • Human urine and feces decomposes
naturally into a nutrient-rich soil additive called humus
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Or something so ancient and natural?
• The Food Cycle• Humanure and Asian Farmers• Humanure and Rancho Mastatal
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On-Site Study• To explore the purpose and use of
the composting toilets at Rancho Mastatal
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Methodology
1. Interview with Tim– To understand the history and
philosophy behind the use of composting toilets at Rancho Mastatal
– To understand how the toilets function– Comprised of 32 questions
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2. Toilet Use Tally– To measure when and why either
composting or flush toilets were used at Rancho Mastatal
3. Toilet Preference Survey– To gain a sense of subject’s reactions to
and thoughts on using the composting toilets
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Toilet Use Tally• Location
– Jeannie’s House or the Main House• Type of Toilet
– Composting or Flush• Purpose of Use
– #1 = urination; #2 = defecation or both• Time of Day of Use
– Daytime or Nighttime• Amount of Flushes
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Finalized Tally Sheet
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Research Question
Does the purpose of use or the time of day of use affect what sort of toilet is used?
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Results
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Location
1 2 3 4 5
0
10
20
30
40
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60
Usag
e
Day
Graph 1.3 - Total Toilet Usage by Location
Jeannie's House (2 toilets)
Main House (2 toilets)
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Type
1 2 3 4 5
0
5
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30
35
40
45
50
Usag
e
Day
Graph 1.4 - Total Toilet Usage by Type
Composting (2 toilets)
Flush (2 toilets)
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Purpose of Use
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Usage
1 2 3 4 5
Day
Graph 2.3A - #1 Toilet Usage
Flush
Composting
0
5
10
15
20
25
1 2 3 4 5
Graph 2.3B - #2 Toilet Usage
Flush
Composting
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Time of Day of Use
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Usage
1 2 3 4 5
Day
Graph 3.3A - Daytime Toilet Usage
Flush
Composting
0
5
10
15
20
25
Usage
1 2 3 4 5
Day
Graph 3.3B - Nighttime Toilet Usage
Flush
Composting
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Amount of Flushes
0
5
10
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Usage
1 2 3 4 5
Day
Graph 4A - Toilet Uses and Flushes for #1 Use
Uses
Flushes
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Usage
1 2 3 4 5
Day
Graph 4B - Toilet Uses and Flushes for #2 Use
Uses
Flushes
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Relevant Conclusions• Overall, flush toilets were frequented
more often than composting toilets• So flush toilets win? Not exactly…
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Purpose of Use• Composting toilets were preferred
over flush toilets for defecation, while flush toilets were the most frequented option for urination
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Possible Explanations• Composting Toilet Preference
– Stink factor– Toilet paper disposal– Sound privacy
• Flush Toilet Preference– Frequency of urination– Lesser need to flush
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Time of Day of Use• The difference in usage between the
two types of toilets during the day was minimal
• At night, however, the difference is large, with composting toilets barely used and flush toilets used more often
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Possible Explanations• Composting Toilets
– Scenic during the day– Dangerous at night
• Dark• Slippery trails• Less protected from the elements ( rain, creepy
crawlies)• Flush Toilets
– Convenient at all times– Safer at night
• Well-lit• Protected from rain• Easy to access, especially for middle-of-the-night uses
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Weaknesses• Inconsistent tally sheets• Certain terms undefined
(daytime/nighttime, #1/#2)• Subject non-participation• Shifting subject pools• Assumed no other ways of relief• Non-statistical analysis of data
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Future• Additional research needed
– Statistical analysis– Other factors (type and design of the
composting toilets)• Possible considerations for future
composting toilets– Location relative to the houses– Safety and convenience of access
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Composting toilets make sense
But are they practical?
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“It is possible to quit putting our so-called bodily wastes where they don’t
belong (in the water) and to start putting them where they do belong (on the land). When waste is used, a liability becomes an asset, and the very concept of waste disappears.”
- Sim Van der Ryn
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