Green Thinking Blog

Yes, I really meant a Compost Potty vs. Compost Party.  While a Compost Party could be a great time, and a long party, this particular post is to send kudos to those Denverites in the great state of Colorado.  I recently headed west from the humid climate of Florida to my happy place, the mountains of Denver. 

While avoiding bears and hiking trails, the call of nature reached my bladder & to my happiness, I found the image you see to your left.

This may look like an ordinary outhouse -  but oh the amenities.

Toilet paper, feminine waste bag, clean, and instructions (for some at eye level).  Instructions are necessary when making waste in the woods and mountains.  For a closer look, see the image below.

It reads:

You are using a recycling toilet by Clivus

1. This toilet uses no water or chemicals.
2. Waste is being composted in the equipment below this building.
3. Do not throw cigarettes, plastics, bottles, or cans into this recycling toilet.

Thank you for helping us preserve the environment.

For states and nature trails and Clivus that have already adopted this technology for public use, we commend you.  This outhouse has provided a haven for my digestive system in the middle of the Lair o’ a Bear,  and assisted my friend Mother Earth.

Do you have t-shirts that are holey, smelly, and with dark yellow pit stains?  Get a clue, your local thrift store doesn’t want them.  The dog won’t go near them.  But they still have potential. 

Cut ‘em up.  Old sleeves make a great head scarf and the remaining shreds make excellent cleaning rags!  Spray some eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner and you’re off!  This way you can avoid more garbage, and the multiple handiwipes it takes to clean the surface of your table. 

When driving down the green-way of life, don’t overlook the smallest room in your house—the bathroom. There are plenty of ways to convert your potty to that of an eco-friendly environment through the basics: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Reduce: Something as simple as cutting down on one square of t.p. per meditation period could reduce how much packaging is wasted because it will cut down how much toilet paper you have to purchase. Grocery saving: BONUS!

Reuse: While we don’t recommend reusing those squares, look at incorporating a plastic, washable cup for your toothbrushing routine instead of purchasing Dixie cups.

Recycle: Save those cardboard rings and either use them for arts-n-crafts with the kiddies, throw them in your hamster cage, or place them in your neighborhood recyling pick-up. A double use makes scraps that much more useful.

A not-so-basic investment: a hemp shower curtain. You may not have ever thought the thin plastic lining of your shower curtain could create so much waste—and a waste that can last a lifetime! Hemp is naturally resistant to mold and bacteria, is quick drying, and will bring a natural feel to your bathroom. It will get wet, but the water will not go through the fibers, so no liner is needed: BONUS! I am not going to lie, it is a little bit pricier than your average $11 shower curtain from Bed, Bath, & Beyond, but wash wisely and you won’t need to buy another one again.