WO2004107946A1

WO2004107946A1 - Human waste disposal

Info

Publication number: WO2004107946A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/001896
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hermanus Johannes Redelinghuys; David Maartens; Anton Maartens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-10
Filing date: 2004-06-09
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2005-12-10

Abstract

This invention provides a lavatory system (10) which comprises a lavatory station (12) for receiving human faecal matter, a waste collection station (18) for collecting dried faecal matter, and an endless conduit (14) for transporting faecal matter from the lavatory station (12) to the waste collection station (18). The conduit (14) is designed for installation such that part of the conduit (14), typically an upper peripheral wall, is exposed to solar radiation, to facilitate drying of faecal matter in the conduit (14). The conduit (14) has an elongated shape, when seen in plan view, so that the system (10) can be installed with the lavatory station (12) located indoors, while the majority of the conduit (14) is outdoors, for collecting solar energy. An endless conveyor (20) comprising a train of abutting ring-like scraper elements (40) is provided in the conduit (14) for transporting faeces along the conduit (14).

Description

HUMAN WASTE DISPOSAL

THIS INVENTION relates to human waste disposal. In particular, the invention relates to a lavatory system. The invention extends to an installation which includes the lavatory system and to a method of disposing of human waste.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a lavatory system which includes: a lavatory^'station for receiving human faecal matter; a waste collection station for collecting dried faecal matter; and a conduit which defines a drying passage which extends past both the lavatory station and the waste collection station for transporting faecal matter from the lavatory station to the waste collection station, the conduit being designed for installation such that at least part of the conduit is exposed to solar radiation for heating of the drying passage, to facilitate drying of faecal matter which is, in use, transported along the conduit, the conduit having an elongated shape, when seen in plan view.

The conduit may be designed for mounting such that the drying passage extends more or less horizontally, so that a longitudinally extending upper peripheral wall of the drying passage is exposed to solar radiation for a substantial portion of the length of the drying passage. Typically, at least an outer surface the upper peripheral wall which is exposed to solar radiation is dark in colour, preferably being black, to facilitate the absorption of heat and thus promote heating of the drying passage.

Preferably, the conduit is endless, optionally being more or less flattened doughnut-shaped, when seen in plan view.

The lavatory system typically includes a conveyor which is movably housed in the drying passage for transporting faecal matter along the drying passage from the lavatory station to the waste collection station by movement of the conveyor. The conveyor may be displaceable along the endless drying passage to move faecal matter along the drying passage by scraping action.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveyor comprises a train of abutting scraper elements which extend in series along the drying passage, so that forced displacement of one of the scraper elements results in consequent displacement along the passage of the other scraper elements in the train.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provides a lavatory system which includes: a lavatory station for receiving human faecal matter; a waste collection station for collecting dried faecal matter; an endless conduit which defines a drying passage which extends past both the lavatory station and the waste collection station for transporting faecal matter from the lavatory station to the waste collection station, the conduit being designed for installation such that at least part of the conduit is exposed to solar radiation for heating of the drying passage, to facilitate drying of faecal matter which is, in use, transported along the conduit; and a conveyor which is movably housed in the drying passage for transporting faecal matter along the drying passage from the lavatory station to the waste collection station by movement of the conveyor, the conveyor comprising a train of abutting scraper elements which extend in series along the conduit, so that forced displacement of one of the scraper elements results in consequent displacement along the passage of the other scraper elements in the train, to move faecal matter along the drying passage by scraping action.

Each scraper element may be a ring-like element having a hollow central cavity for receiving and conveying faecal matter, the system including a drive mechanism for step-wise displacement of the scraper elements along the drying passage, successively to locate scraper elements beneath the lavatory station. By ring- like element is meant that that the element has a substantially endless band- or hoop- shaped wall which surrounds a central cavity. In use, faecal matter will thus rest on a floor of the conduit, being located in the cavity of one of the scraper elements so that it is surrounded by the peripheral wall of the scraper element. Forced movement of the scraper element along the conduit will thus result in scraping displacement of the faecal matter along the floor of the conduit by the wall of the scraper element.

Typically, the waste collection station includes a discharge opening in a floor of the conduit for permitting the passage of faecal matter under gravity through the discharge opening, each scraper element being shaped and dimensioned for passage over the discharge opening such that the central cavity is brought into register with the discharge opening. In instances where each scraper element has a circular profile, the discharge opening may be a circular opening of smaller diameter than that of the scraper elements.

Each scraper element may be of a resiliently deformable polymeric plastics material.

The system may include a drive mechanism for moving the conveyor such that, in use, faecal matter is intermittently moved along the drying passage by discrete movements. The drive mechanism may include an operating member, such as an operating lever, mounted at or adjacent the lavatory station for operation by users after use of the lavatory station, to effect step-wise displacement of the conveyor.

The drive mechanism will preferably be arranged for movement of the conveyor from the lavatory station to the waste collection station by at least ten operations of the operating member. Typically, faecal matter will intermittently be displaced along the drying passage by one stroke length of the operating member at a time.

The waste collection station may include a pit which is located beneath a discharge opening in the conduit, to permit passage of faecal matter from the drying passage into the pit under gravity. Conveniently, the pit may include a removable and replaceable receptacle which is positioned beneath the discharge opening in the conduit for receiving dried faecal matter from the drying passage. The receptacle may have walls which permit the passage of air therethrough, to promote continued ventilation of faecal matter received in the receptacle. The waste receptacle is preferably located in a pit chamber which is provided with a separate closeable service opening, to permit removal and replacement of the waste collection receptacle.

The lavatory station may include a toilet bowl mounted above the conduit in register with the drying passage, the toilet bowl being in communication with the drying passage via an inlet opening leading downwardly from the toilet bowl into the drying passage.

The system preferably includes a ventilation system for moving ambient air into the drying passage through a toilet bowl inlet opening at the lavatory station, along the drying passage and out of the discharge opening. The ventilation system may be arranged for moving air through the pit and out of an exhaust opening. The ventilation system may include an extractor, such as an extractor fan or a wind turbine, mounted at or adjacent the exhaust opening for generating a relatively low air pressure at the exhaust opening, to draw air into the pit from the drying passage, through the pit, and out of the exhaust opening.

Preferably, the lavatory station is arranged for separating faecal matter and urine, to inhibit the entry of urine into the drying passage. It will be appreciated that drying of faecal matter or excrement in the drying passage is thus an anaerobic operation, which inhibits the generation of foul odours.

- The lavatory station may be located indoors in a building, the conduit extending outside of the building, more or less at ground level, such that the majority of the length of the conduit is located outside of the building for exposure thereof to solar radiation.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an installation which includes: a building structure; a lavatory system which has a lavatory station for collecting human faecal matter, the lavatory station being located inside the building structure, and the lavatory system including an endless conduit which defines a drying passage along which faecal matter is displaceable from the lavatory station to a waste collection station, the majority of the length of the conduit being located outside of the building structure and being exposed to solar radiation for facilitating drying of faecal matter in the conduit.

The toilet system is preferably a toilet system as defined above.

The conduit may be located more or less at ground level, the endless conduit defining an enclosed recess in which construction material is received to form a base for a building unit.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of disposing of human waste, which method includes: collecting faecal matter at lavatory station; transporting the faecal matter along an elongated drying passage by movement of a conveyor which comprises a train of abutting scraper elements which extend in series along the drying passage, so that forced displacement of one of the scraper elements results in consequent displacement along the passage of the other scraper elements in the train, at least part of a peripheral wall of the drying passage being exposed to solar radiation for heating of the passage; and discharging the faecal matter, after drying thereof during its transportation along the drying passage, into a waste collection station.

Transportation of the faecal matter may be in a step-wise manner, so that faecal matter is intermittently displaced by discrete distances along the drying passage, and so that the scraper elements are successively brought into register with the lavatory station for receiving faecal matter, each discrete movement of faecal matter along the drying passage optionally being effected by user operation of an operating member provided at the lavatory station.

The method may include moving air over faecal matter in the drying passage, to facilitate drying of the faecal matter. Air may be moved along the drying passage in the same direction as the transportation of faecal matter along the drying passage, air being drawn into the passage at the lavatory station and being expelled from the passage at the waste collection station.

In such case, the method may include moving air through the waste collection station, where dried faecal matter received from the drying passage is stored temporarily, to promote further drying of the faecal matter in the waste collection station.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a lavatory system according to the invention; Figure 2 is a part-sectional side elevation of a portion of the system of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation of the system of Figure 1 , taken at line Ill-Ill in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a part-sectional elevation of the system of Figure 1 , showing a discharge opening from a drying passage into a waste collection station;

Figure 5 is a schematic sectional elevation of a building installation in accordance with the invention, the installation including the toilet system of Figure 1.

In Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a waterless or dry lavatory installation in accordance with the invention. The installation 10 comprises a lavatory station in the form of a toilet bowl 12, an endless conduit 14 which defines a drying passage 16, and a waste collection station or pit 18.

The bowl 12 is in communication with the hollow interior of the conduit 14 by means of an outlet from the bowl 12 for permitting the passage of faecal matter under gravity into the drying passage 16, an endless conveyor 20 being located in the drying passage 16 to effect transportation of faecal matter along the passage 16 by movement of the conveyor 20. The conveyor 20 is thus movable along a predetermined path in the passage 16, the conduit 14 including a discharge opening 22 to the pit 18 at a point along the passage 16. The installation 10 is configured to allow excrement to pass through the bowl 12 on to the conduit 14 and along the drying passage 16 into the pit 18 through movement of the conveyor 20. The conduit 14 is of a moulded polymeric plastics material, having a broadly rectangular cross-sectional profile, so that the conduit 14 includes a floor or base 24 with integral walls, namely a radially inner wall 26 and a radially outer wall 28. The conduit 14 also includes a cover 30 which extends transversely between the walls 26, 28, the cover forming a longitudinally extending upper peripheral wall of the drying passage 16. In this example, the cover 30 is of a black plastics material, to promote the absorption of heat from solar radiation and thus facilitate heating of the drying passage 16. The cover 30 is omitted in Figure 1 of the drawings, for clarity of illustration.

The conduit 14 thus provides the enclosed drying passage 16, which forms the excrement path along which faecal matter is, in use, moved. In this embodiment the conduit 14 is shaped such that the drying passage 16, and thus the excrement path, is more or less flattened doughnut-shaped in plan view, projecting forwardly from the toilet bowl 12.

The discharge opening 22 comprises an aperture in the base 24, the discharge opening 22 being located above the pit 18. In this example, the waste collection station 18 comprises a pit or sump formed by a bag 32 which is supported by a frame 34. The bag 32 is of plastic netting and the frame 34 is collapsible. The bag 32 is located at least partly underneath the aperture 22 (Figure 4), the bag 32 and the frame 34 being located in a hollow housing 36 of a moulded plastics material. The housing 36 also includes a removable cover 38, which serves as a service opening for allowing access to the pit 18 for cleaning of the bag 32. Figure 4 additionally shows a mounting bracket 15 for mounting of the conduit 14. The conveyor 20 includes a series of scraper elements 40 which are siidably movable over the base 24. In this embodiment the scraper elements 40 are a series or train of plastics material rings extending along the drying passage 16, abutting each other and filling the drying passage 16. Thus, forced displacement of one of the rings 40 results in the shunting of the other rings 40 along the passage 16, so that the rings 40 together effectively form a single conveyor 20. Each scraper ring 40 thus defines a pocket in which excrement can be received and conveyed along the passage 16.

The installation 10 includes an operating member 42 located adjacent the toilet bowl 12, the operating member 42 being connected by means of a cable 44 to a hook plate 46. The control member is a hand grip which is movable between a rest position and a displaced position (indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2). The cable 44 is housed in a sheath tube 48 along which the cable 44 is siidably displaceable. Thus, pulling of the operating member 42 results in displacement of the hook plate 46 towards the toilet bowl 12, by operation of the cable 44. The hook plate 46 is biased away from the toilet bowl 12, so that release of the operating member 42 results in movement of the hook plate 46 away from the toilet bowl 12, under the bias.

The hook plate 46 is shaped and configured to engage one of the scraper rings 40 when the operating member is moved to its displaced position. This causes the ring 40 to be drawn along the drying passage 16 towards the toilet bowl 12, and because the rings 40 are in tight abutment in the drying passage 16, movement of one ring 40 causes movement of all the rings 40. One movement of the operating member 42 from its rest position to its displaced position therefore causes all the rings 40 to move by a discrete amount, which is designed to correspond roughly to the diameter of one of the rings 18. The installation 10 thus includes a drive mechanism for moving the conveyor stepwise along the drying passage 16. Thus, in use, the scraper elements are successively brought into register with the toilet bowl by successive pulling of the operator member 42.

An air ventilation shaft 50 is in air flow communication with the interior of the pit housing 36, the ventilation shaft 50 extending upwardly from the housing 36. An air displacement means in the form of an extractor fan or a wind turbine 54 is provided at an upper end of the ventilation shaft 50, for drawing air from the interior of the pit housing 36 and exhausting it from the upper end of the shaft 50.

The installation 10 includes a curtain 52 located in the drying passage 16 between the discharge opening 22 to the pit 18, and the toilet bowl 12. The curtain 52 comprises a plastics material sheet secured to the cover 30 and closes off a space in the passage 16 above the scraper rings 40. This results in the drawing of air into the pit 18 along the drying passage 16. In use, air is drawn into the drying passage 16 through the outlet of the toilet bowl 12, along the drying passage 16 in the direction of movement of the conveyor, indicated by arrow 54, through the discharge opening 22 into the pit housing 36, and out through the air ventilation shaft 50.

In this manner air is drawn through the conduit 14 over faecal matter in the drying passage 16, as well as through the perforated bag 32 in the pit 18, so that the moving air facilitates drying of faecal matter both in the drying passage 16 and in the pit 18. Additionally, the curtain restricts the movement of air from the toilet bowl 12 towards the pit 18 over the shortest route, but instead forces air to flow over faecal matter on the longer leg of the drying passage 16, from the toilet bowl 12 to the pit 18, to assist with the drying process.

The conduit 14 is partially buried in the ground, the pit 18 being located in the ground. The cover 30 is located at or above ground level, exposing it to sunlight, i.e. to solar radiation. This exposure causes the enclosed drying passage 16 to be heated, in use, which promotes drying of faecal matter in the drying passage 16.

In use, a user (not shown) defecates into the bowl 12 in conventional fashion. The bowl 12 is constructed to have a separate urine collection arrangement 56, so that substantially only faecal matter passes through the toilet bowl 12 into one of the scraper rings 40 positioned directly underneath the toilet bowl 12. The urine is fed to a drain area in the ground. Instead, the urine can be fed to a conservancy tank (not shown) or to an open space, or sump 80, in the pit 18.

After use, the operating member 42 is pulled once. This advances each ring 40 by one position along the drying passage 16. The fresh faecal matter is thus moved away from the toilet bowl 12, and a clean ring 40 is moved into position, ready for use.

With each subsequent pull of the operating member 42, the rings 40 move forward by one position along the drying passage 16. In Figure 1 , the conveyor 20 moves from the toilet bowl 12 anti-clockwise to the discharge opening 22 in the base 24. Naturally, the rings 50 can move in a clockwise direction if the discharge opening 22 is positioned differently. It will be clear from Figure 1 that there are a number of rings 40 along the drying passage 16, which determines the residence time of faecal matter in the drying passage 16. In this example, the conveyor 20 comprises twenty eight rings 40 so that faecal matter remains in the drying passage 16 for twenty eight separate instances of use of the toilet bowl 12, which may constitute two to three days, depending on the frequency of use of the toilet bowl 12.

While the faecal matter is in the drying passage 16, it dries out due to exposure of the cover 30 to sunlight, resulting in relatively high temperatures in the drying passage 16. Such drying out of the faecal matter is promoted by the movement of air along the drying passage 16, as described above. The pit 18 is located adjacent the toilet bowl 12 such that faecal matter is, in use, conveyed in an operative direction almost the entire length of the conduit, providing maximal drying time for faecal matter in the conduit. Due to the exposure of the conduit to sunlight, the faeces is heated up and dries out. Since faeces and urine are separated at the toilet bowl, the conditions in the conduit remain an aerobic and minimal of unpleasant smells are generated.

Once the excrement reaches the discharge opening 22 it is substantially dry and simply drops into the bag 32. The rings 40 pass over the opening 22, as they have a greater diameter than the opening 22. Any remaining moisture evaporates from the excrement in the bag 32 as a result of airflow over the bag 14.

The elliptical or flattened shape of the conduit 14 allows the system to be easily installed inside a building, with the elliptical path being located outside the building. The length of the conduit may also be modified according the estimated frequency of usage of the lavatory, with a longer excrement path and more rings 40 being used if the frequency of use is estimated to be high. In figure 5 of the drawings, reference numeral 60 generally indicates a building installation which includes a toilet system 10 as described with reference to Figures 1 - 4. Like reference numerals indicate like parts in Figures 1 - 4 and in Figure 5.

The installation 10 includes a building, in this case a house 62, in which the toilet bowl 12 of the lavatory station is positioned. The conduit 14 is oriented such that it extends lengthwise away from the building, so that the majority of conduit's length is located outside of the building 62, permitting heating of the drying passage 16 by sunlight. To this end, the upper peripheral wall 30 of the drying passage 16 is located at or above ground level 64, thus being exposed to solar radiation.

The waste collection station or pit 18 is also located outside of the building 62, adjacent an outer wall of the building, to allow maximum residence time of faecal matter in the drying passage 16 during conveyance thereof to the pit 18.

It will be appreciated that the elongated shape of the conduit 14, having the shape of a flattened doughnut in plan view, permits incorporation of the toilet system 10 in a building 62, such that almost the entire length of the drying passage 16 located outside of the building, where it is exposed to sunlight.

Most modern lavatories work on the principle of flushing faeces and urine with water to a waste treatment site. This option is not always available in remote areas and also uses large amount of sometimes scarce water resources. An alternative is a pit lavatory system, where a toilet seat is located above a pit in the ground and the faeces and urine end up inside the pit. A difficulty with this system is the combination of faeces and urine in the pit, which leads to anaerobic conditions and unpleasant odours. These conditions are also unhygienic and cause groundwater pollution.

It is an advantage of the invention as described with reference to the drawings that the lavatory installation provides for the separation of faeces and urine, and the separate drying of the faeces in the drying passage, while the lavatory station is located in indoors and the majority of the drying passage, which requires solar radiation for optimal functioning, is located outdoors. Thus, the installation enables hygienic and environmentally friendly waste disposal at remote locations, without the need for, or use of, running water.

The direction of movement of air through the system inhibits the escape of unpleasant odours through the toilet bowl, although the anaerobic conditions in the drying passage should facilitate relatively odour-free drying. The drying of faecal matter in the drying passage is promoted by exposure of the conduit to solar radiation and resultant green-house type heating of the drying passage.

Claims

Claims:

1. A lavatory system which includes: a lavatory station for receiving human faecal matter; a waste collection station for collecting dried faecal matter; and a conduit which defines a drying passage which extends past both the lavatory station and the waste collection station for transporting faecal matter from the lavatory station to the waste collection station, the conduit being designed for installation such that at least part of the conduit is exposed to solar radiation for heating of the drying passage, to facilitate drying of faecal matter which is, in use, transported along the conduit, the conduit having an elongated shape, when seen in plan view.

2. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 1 , in which the conduit is designed for mounting such that the drying passage extends more or less horizontally, so that a longitudinally extending upper peripheral wall of the drying passage is exposed to solar radiation for a substantial portion of the length of the drying passage.

3. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 2, in which the conduit is endless.

4. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 3, in which the conduit is more or less flattened doughnut-shaped, when seen in plan view.

5. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, which includes a conveyor which is movably housed in the drying passage for transporting faecal matter along the drying passage from the lavatory station to the waste collection station by movement of the conveyor.

6. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 5, in which the conveyor is displaceable along the endless drying passage to move faecal matter along the drying passage by scraping action.

7. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 6, in which the conveyor comprises a train of abutting scraper elements which extend in series along the drying passage, so that forced displacement of one of the scraper elements results in consequent displacement along the passage of the other scraper elements in the train.

8. A lavatory system which includes: a lavatory station for receiving human faecal matter; a waste collection station for collecting dried faecal matter; an endless conduit which defines a drying passage which extends past both the lavatory station and the waste collection station for transporting faecal matter from the lavatory station to the waste collection station, the conduit being designed for installation such that at least part of the conduit is exposed to solar radiation for heating of the drying passage, to facilitate drying of faecal matter which is, in use, transported along the conduit; and a conveyor which is movably housed in the drying passage for transporting faecal matter along the drying passage from the lavatory station to the waste collection station, by movement of the conveyor, the conveyor comprising a train of abutting scraper elements which extend in series along the conduit, so that forced displacement of one of the scraper elements results in consequent displacement along the passage of the other scraper elements in the train, to move faecal matter along the drying passage by scraping action.

9. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 8, in which the conduit is designed for mounting such that the drying passage extends more or less horizontally, so that a longitudinally extending upper peripheral wall of the drying passage is exposed to solar radiation for a substantial portion of the length of the drying passage.

10. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 9, in which the conduit has an elongated shape, when seen in plan view.

11. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 7 or claim 10, in which each scraper element is a ring-like element having a hollow central cavity for receiving and conveying faecal matter, the system including a drive mechanism for step-wise displacement of the scraper elements along the drying passage, successively to locate scraper elements beneath the lavatory station.

12. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 11, in which the waste collection station includes a discharge opening in a floor of the conduit for permitting the passage of faecal matter under gravity through the discharge opening, each scraper element being shaped and dimensioned for passage over the discharge opening such that the central cavity is brought into register with the discharge opening.

13. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, in which each scraper element is of a resiliently deformable polymeric plastics material.

14. A lavatory system as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 13 inclusive, which includes a drive mechanism for moving the conveyor such that, in use, faecal matter is intermittently moved along the drying passage by discrete movements.

15. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 14, in which the drive mechanism includes an operating member mounted at or adjacent the lavatory station for operation by users after use of the lavatory station, to effect step-wise displacement of the conveyor.

16. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 15, in which the drive mechanism is arranged for movement of the conveyor from the lavatory station to the waste collection station by at least ten operations of the operating member.

17. A lavatory system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the waste collection station includes a pit which is located beneath a discharge opening in the conduit, to permit passage of faecal matter from the drying passage into the pit under gravity.

18. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 17, in which the pit includes a removable and replaceable receptacle which is positioned beneath the discharge opening in the conduit for receiving dried faecal matter from the drying passage.

19. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 18, in which the receptacle has walls which permit the passage of air therethrough, to promote continued ventilation of faecal matter received in the receptacle.

20. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, in which the waste receptacle is located in a pit chamber which is provided with a separate closeable service opening, to permit removal and replacement of the waste collection receptacle.

21. A lavatory system as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 20 inclusive, which includes a ventilation system for moving ambient air into the drying passage through a toilet bowl inlet opening at the lavatory station, along the drying passage and out of the discharge opening.

22. A lavatory system as claimed in claim 21 , in which the ventilation system is arranged for moving air through the pit and out of an exhaust opening.

23. A lavatory system as claimed in 22, in which the ventilation system includes an extractor mounted at or adjacent the exhaust opening for generating a relatively low air pressure at the exhaust opening, to draw air into the pit from the drying passage, through the pit, and out of the exhaust opening.

24. A lavatory system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the lavatory station is arranged for separating faecal matter and urine, to inhibit the entry of urine into the drying passage.

25. A lavatory system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the lavatory station is located indoors in a building, the conduit extending outside of the building, more or less at ground level, such that the majority of the length of the conduit is located outside of the building for exposure thereof to solar radiation.

26. An installation which includes: a building structure; a lavatory system which has a lavatory station for collecting human faecal matter, the lavatory station being located inside the building structure, and the lavatory system including an endless conduit which defines a drying passage along which faecal matter is displaceable from the lavatory station to a waste collection station, the majority of the length of the conduit being located outside of the building structure and being exposed to solar radiation for facilitating drying of faecal matter in the conduit.

27. An installation as claimed in claim 26, in which the toilet system is a toilet system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25.

28. A method of disposing of human waste, which method includes: collecting faecal matter at lavatory station; transporting the faecal matter along an elongated drying passage by movement of a conveyor which comprises a train of abutting scraper elements which extend in series along the drying passage, so that forced displacement of one of the scraper elements results in consequent displacement along the passage of the other scraper elements in the train, at least part of a peripheral wall of the drying passage being exposed to solar radiation for heating of the passage; and discharging the faecal matter, after drying thereof during its transportation along the drying passage, into a waste collection station.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, in which transportation of the faecal matter is in a step-wise manner, so that faecal matter is intermittently displaced by discrete distances along the drying passage, and so that the scraper elements are successively brought into register with the lavatory station for receiving faecal matter.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, in which each discrete movement of faecal matter along the drying passage is effected by user operation of an operating member provided at the lavatory station.

31. A method as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 30 inclusive, which includes moving air over faecal matter in the drying passage, to facilitate drying of the faecal matter.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31 , in which air is moved along the drying passage in a direction of transportation of faecal matter along the drying passage, air being drawn into the passage at the lavatory station and being expelled from the passage at the waste collection station.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, which includes moving air through the waste collection station, where dried faecal matter received from the drying passage is stored temporarily, to promote further drying of the faecal matter in the waste collection station.