God Poo
It is 4 am. A carpet snake slides along the top of the straw bale wall, its scales grinding a path across the lime render. I can tell it’s a big one by the length of sound coming across the bedroom. The Eastern Yellow Robins call to each other outside, the strength and sharpness of their laser like call indicating their dominance and willingness to partner up. This is the time of day I love to meditate and think creatively.
Last night, I began considering the possibility that the transition from human to God was occurring in my composting toilet. This apparent apotheosis from human DNA in my scat, to being a part of the living earth for ever more, fits nicely with my philosophy of God being everything that there is everywhere. I liked the idea so much that I now think that compost toilets are actually God recovery and regeneration devices and not “waste” management facilities afterall. I mean, we deposit human by-products and receive compost. Where is the waste in a compost toilet anyway? It’s only a definition in the Local Govt Act that defines them as such.The same regulation that every local council uses to determine whether you are allowed to build your own “God recovery facility” or not.
Section 41 of the regulations to the Local Govt Act says that you can’t have a compost toilet unless the design (not the product) is accredited by NSW health. There are however, three exceptions to the rule. Where the facility:
(a) is to be installed or constructed as a model for the purposes of testing (this means in conjunction with a well thought out and paid for testing regime), or
(b) is designed, and is to be constructed, by the owner or occupier of the premises on which it is to be installed, (i.e. you must provide drawings and build it yourself)
(c) is designed, by a person other than the owner or occupier of the premises on which it is to be installed, specifically and uniquely for those premises.
In theory, this means that councils should not approve any design that does not fit into any of these criteria. However, the reality is that many excellent composting toilets such as Farralones and Minimus designs are built by builders and later approved by council upon inspection. This fits with the idiom that it is better to ask for forgiveness than bother asking for permission.
I have great plans on my website. As long as it’s built properly, God won’t mind, but council might. Alternatively, there are some excellent accredited products which are economical and proven to work on my website too.
