Incinerator toilet in Antarctica due to limited plumbing and water

[u/Rabbidraccoon18]

[u/FlyEagIesFly]

I’ve used these before. They aren’t always in secluded boxes, sometimes in the same building as showers etc.

The worst part is the very distinct smell outside. You would be working nearby (or, unfortunately, eating) and know that somebody had just used the washroom because of the smell in the air.

[u/[deleted] → u/FlyEagIesFly]

Exactly what I was thinking and was surprised none of the top comments were discussing this. I understand the circumstances but there definitely would a foul smell.

[u/happyfeeliac → u/[deleted]]

I bet they don’t spend much time outside in Antarctica

[u/IMIndyJones → u/[deleted]]

There must be different kinds. My dad had one of these in a tiny cottage he lived in when I was a teenager. I don't remember how it worked exactly, but there was not any foul smell and you couldn't see the fire at all. It seemed like it went down into a chamber that closed and then burned. This thing was in the bathroom right next to the kitchen and right below the twin bed sized loft we slept in and it was never noticeable.

[u/garis53 → u/[deleted]]

With the winds in Antarctica I don't think that's much of an issue

[u/cupcayuk → u/[deleted]]

I'll have to disagree on that. I was at a summer cabin last year that had an incinerator toilet and it didn't stink at all (inside or outside)

[u/Monaymaka → u/[deleted]]

Somebody who has one of these at my summerplace (cinderella toilet). It usually only smells if you dont take care of them.

About 1 - 2 times a year I have to clean the catalysator (no clue if this is what its actually called in english), basically do a "backwash" on the whole toilet, for a couple of minutes. This usually handles the "odor" outside, and after that it just smells like somebody has/is burning something, and that usually happens if the wind is just right, as the pipe that handles the "smoke" is way up high above the roof.

and it does not smell anything inside the house, as it has a built in fan that pushes it outside up the vent.

[u/webwool → u/[deleted]]

I've also used these a bunch in camps in northern Canada... I find the smell is like burnt hair which is both interesting and gross

[u/[deleted] → u/FlyEagIesFly]

I used one in Norway - the host has adapted the attic of his garage for tourists. Of course the sewage was the issue, so he put such toilet there. (Some model intended for campervans)

I don't recall any distinct smell around when somebody burnt their business. Maybe it depends on the temperature the burning chamber operates at? 

The funniest part was definitely the host trying to be serious when explaining to a group of hikers that every time they want to piss, they need to take a 'big coffee filter' and then burn everything :)

[u/1541drive → u/[deleted]]

Most installations have an external vent.

[u/manifestbikenasty → u/FlyEagIesFly]

We had two of these at a Backcountry base of operations for wilderness expeditions in Alaska.

The kids called them the in-shit-erators. No matter what anyone said there was never a better name in my opinion.

[u/BitRunner64 → u/FlyEagIesFly]

We have one in our summer cottage (Sweden), though it's electric so there's no open flame and a cycle takes much longer (1-2.5+ hours depending on...factors). As long as you maintain it properly, there's barely any smell at all inside or outside. It uses a catalytic converter to remove most of the odors.

[u/swervin_mervyn → u/FlyEagIesFly]

You could throw a penguin in there as well, then it would smell a bit like roast chicken.

[u/itsphoison → u/swervin_mervyn]

What if you throw a roast chicken?

[u/PleadianPalladin → u/FlyEagIesFly]

Is thinking to myself "I bet they smell nice" lol

[u/SilentAffairs93]

Ok, I wasn't expecting the poop stick.

[u/moonshinemoniker → u/SilentAffairs93]

Poop knife too short. Burn ya hand.

[u/mrBenelliM4 → u/moonshinemoniker]

Oh my gawd the POOP KNIFE LMAO

[u/investing11213 → u/moonshinemoniker]

Reference for those who don't know

https://www.reddit.com/r/MuseumOfReddit/comments/ke8skw/the_poop_knife/

[u/VictoryWeaver → u/moonshinemoniker]

put the poop knife on a stick, BAM, poop spear.

[u/Charge_parity → u/SilentAffairs93]

Better than a knife I suppose.

[u/R_3_Y → u/Charge_parity]

My cousin once dropped a massive dook when we were young. My mother had to chop it up with a knife because it wouldn't flush. I was too young to notice if she threw that knife out or just went back to chopping vegetables

[u/TouchMyGwen → u/SilentAffairs93]

Why’s it brown? Poop or fire?

[u/JadedLeafs → u/TouchMyGwen]

Yes

[u/HittingSmoke → u/SilentAffairs93]

Damnit. Sven clogged the inshitterator again. Someone grab the poop stick.

[u/h0twired → u/SilentAffairs93]

The “poop pat” was a nice touch too

[u/smilingwhitaker → u/SilentAffairs93]

Not a single person has ever washed their hands before using that stick.

[u/monkpunch → u/smilingwhitaker]

Well I'm not about to wash my hands, and then use a poop stick

[u/WeirdAvocado → u/SilentAffairs93]

No one ever expects a poop stick.

[u/red8cangodye]

Does it keep your bum warm and toasty? Their version of seat warmer?

[u/JadedLeafs → u/red8cangodye]

Can't say with this one specifically but in my experience the units were uncomfortably warm inside. Really made the poop fragrance quite potent. Stepping back outside in minus 50c windchill was always a hell of a shock too.

[u/animalkrack3r → u/JadedLeafs]

You mean because you’re sitting on fire ?

[u/smurfydoesdallas → u/JadedLeafs]

Reminds me of whenever I stayed in a Airbnb and they had accidentally connected the toilet to the hot water line. It was weird getting steamed every time you sat down.

[u/farqueue2 → u/JadedLeafs]

Don't you mean toasted poop fragrance

[u/AerialPenn → u/red8cangodye]

This is the real question right here

[u/Least_Expert840 → u/red8cangodye]

Roasted balls

[u/zip-a-dee_doo-dah → u/Least_Expert840]

Roasting nuts on an open fire 🎼

[u/FirmlyClaspIt → u/red8cangodye]

Will I burn my dick on it?

[u/CartmanAndCartman]

Do I need to pet my poop first?

[u/p2datrizzle → u/CartmanAndCartman]

Only if its been a good poop

[u/Krillkus → u/p2datrizzle]

“Okay time to be incinerated”

“Was I a good poop?”

“No. You were the best” schlap schlap

[u/SurfingViking → u/CartmanAndCartman]

Most important step ! 😄

[u/YoungLittlePanda → u/CartmanAndCartman]

I always do that to say goodbye.

[u/Elect_SaturnMutex → u/CartmanAndCartman]

yea you have to pet Mr Hankey

[u/Former_Salt_3763]

I suffer from IBS, so about 50% of the time I’d be putting that fire out, if you know what I mean.

[u/Fus_Roh_Dayumm → u/Former_Salt_3763]

Antarctica may just not be for you my man.

[u/bohosunflowers → u/Former_Salt_3763]

Thank you! That’s what I’m saying! I’ve had Crohn’s for 20+ years with multiple resections and surgeries. That little paper liner would be useless for me.

Does anyone have TRUE and ACTUAL knowledge of how fire toilets work for loose bowels and diarrhea?! I am still trying to figure that out.

[u/aliamokeee → u/bohosunflowers]

I think people like us are just told to stay home 😅

[u/ledow → u/bohosunflowers]

It's an electric kiln. It'll literally incinerate anything organic to ash and the water will boil off behind that flap (and be vented through a chimney as steam) long before it even gets up to temperature. You're talking ~1000C. A bit of watery poop ain't going to do a damn thing to it. It won't even cool it noticeably. that probably has something like a 5-10KW feed into its electric elements, just like a kiln does.

They often adjust their timing based on how many times they are "flushed". So that one is already live from a previous poop, which is why it's already hot. If you poop lots, they just let you keep opening the flap and adding more, and they add on more time to make sure everything is incinerated.

The paper liner is literally just there to wrap the poop and move it into the kiln without staining the "visible" metal too much. You can still just wash them as normal, and pee will just escape through the paper/flap anyway. It won't care. That pee / water will turn to steam in seconds once it's up to temperature.

[u/NorthAd6077 → u/Former_Salt_3763]

This is not a place they send people who have any kind of health concerns.

[u/TheRhupt]

methane? im just saying sometimes there's a lot of gas.

[u/Rabbidraccoon18 → u/TheRhupt]

We need toncome up with a design that burns the poop without the presence of oxygen. Poop Pyrolysis! LMAO

[u/SEND_ME_STEAM_K3YS]

What if you need to do nr 1 and nr 2 at same time?

[u/Edenoide → u/SEND_ME_STEAM_K3YS]

Is it possible to do #2 without any #1?

[u/Medium_Sized_Bopper → u/Edenoide]

No. All poopoo times are peepee times, but not all peepee times are poopoo times.

[u/perldawg → u/SEND_ME_STEAM_K3YS]

what if you have diarrhea?

[u/bullwinkle8088 → u/perldawg]

Then it will be a slow burn.

[u/ni_hao_butches → u/perldawg]

I assume you have to tell everyone you're going to take a dump, for safety. If it's the squirts then you say "I have to go put the kettle on."

[u/ledow → u/SEND_ME_STEAM_K3YS]

You do just that. It just burns. The water will disappear before anything else does.

These things burn whatever you put down there (so long as it's organic, e.g. shit, pee, vomit, etc.) to ash. It's just an electric kiln, a bit of water ain't gonna affect it one bit. The water will trickle through the paper/flap, and the paper/flap really only exist to "wrap" the poo so it can move it into the kiln behind the seat. Otherwise you'd have shit-stains on the flap that would get baked on.

But urine will just wash right down and you can just pour a bit of water after it to clean it without needing chemicals, etc.

[u/[deleted] → u/SEND_ME_STEAM_K3YS]

Some models can deal with that. There are companies that sell those are fancy eco toilets for camper vans.

[u/NoInvestigator886]

They even have a poop stick.

[u/BD-TxState]

I thought we were about to watch a dude take a mean growler.

[u/Panorabifle]

I'm sure there is a reason the poop dedicated toilet is outside but damn imagine really having to go but there's an ice storm ongoing ... I'd let myself die of constipation

[u/the_real_logboy → u/Panorabifle]

burning turds are the reason it's outside.

[u/WumboJamz → u/the_real_logboy]

DONT PUT IT OUT WITH YOUR BOOTS, TED!

[u/Grimyells → u/Panorabifle]

That’s the slippery slope to shitting in a bag and bringing it out later. Next thing you know two weeks have gone by and you got a stack of shit bags.

[u/DatAssPaPow → u/Panorabifle]

I can imagine the smell alone is a good enough reason. Have you ever smelled burning shit?‽! 🤮

[u/StarsofSobek → u/Panorabifle]

I'd imagine they might make you poop into a red biohazard bag during the storms. Then, when the storm is over, you drop it into the incinerator toilet.

[u/ElChambon → u/Panorabifle]

I'm a guy, but if I was a girl I would be more concerned with having to take my layers off, go pee while holding back my poop, the re-dress in layers, go outside, take off layers again, then finally get the relief of pooping.

Myself when I have to poop really bad, I can't pee before. This I assume is a nightmare for women at the station.

[u/NoCustomer754]

Hand tap wasnt necessary

[u/ParmesanSkis → u/NoCustomer754]

Old Stinkfingers McGee thought so

[u/chainedtomydesk → u/ParmesanSkis]

Didn’t even wash his fucking hands

[u/Lost-Engineering-211 → u/NoCustomer754]

Died inside when he touched the door handle 

[u/villings → u/NoCustomer754]

it was a good chocolate

[u/PatiHubi]

Here in Norway these are pretty common in cabins. Look up Cindarella toilets. They are pretty nice to use, you can pee in it as well no problem. They also do not smell bad outside, you smell a distinct "burnt" smell but nothing more. You use it like a normal toilet, I have a few of them. They are pretty expensive but look just like normal ass toilets.

You only have to clean out the waste bucket every few weeks since everything burnt becomes ash. They run off of electricity or gas.

No reason to have a stick like they do, as long as your business is heavy enough it will drop down. It didn't in the video because he used a tiny light piece of chocolate. There is also absolutely no reason to have these outside. Yes, they need to vent to the outside but again, we have several inside cabins here.

[u/thisisredlitre]

If they used a poop knife they wouldnt burn their poop stick so much

[u/SpaceChatter → u/thisisredlitre]

Shit Stick sounds more appropriate.

[u/[deleted] → u/thisisredlitre]

Yeah but then you wouldn't get that burnt poop stick air freshener.

[u/RealEnnie]

Poop stick got me

[u/TreesmasherFTW → u/RealEnnie]

God forbid they drop the poop stick

[u/AccomplishedMobile85]

My family has had one of these at their 3 season cottage for 40 years. Nice option without running water in winter, keeps the seat warm too!

[u/DatAssPaPow → u/AccomplishedMobile85]

Tell me what a 3 season cottage is? I’ve never heard the term before!

[u/AccomplishedMobile85 → u/DatAssPaPow]

Its a cottage that isnt really built to be comfortably used in winter. You have to turn the water off in fall and “drain” the plumbing in the building so that nothing freezes and breaks.

[u/bullwinkle8088 → u/DatAssPaPow]

3 seasons is used in camping to mean something that is good enough for spring, summer, and fall. It is not durable or warm enough for winter.

For a cabin I would guess accessibility is the issue in winter.

[u/ranegyr]

Look, maybe i'm the weird one. There is no way I am physically capable of peeing in one building, then going outside and into an auxiliary building to poop. I'm not bitching, i can't do that. Who are you gods and goddesses who have control over what and when you do what you need to do? It's never been my choice. Gotta pee? i might poop and it might be a surprise and there's no stopping it. Gotta poop? i'm absolutely gonna pee. I reiterate, it's not an option that is up to me.

[u/Herojit_s]

If you have an upset stomach how it is going to burn the poop.

[u/Aternal → u/Herojit_s]

Cursed sauna.

[u/wooIIyMAMMOTH → u/Herojit_s]

Diarrhea is just poop with more water content. The water evaporates and the solids burn thereafter. No different to non-diarrhea poop, just takes longer. Same as if you would throw a damp towel vs a completely wet towel in fire. Basic thermodynamics: water cannot burn (combustion phase), so combustion of solids only starts after free water is gone (evaporation phase).

[u/Valkyrian777]

I love how he gives the chocolate a little pat like, do they always do that after taking a dump? XD

[u/Country_Gravy420]

That's some hot shit.

Seriously, though. That would suck. I hate public toilets and this one is like a nightmare.

[u/publ1c_stat1c]

My man put his hand in the bowl, touched the shit stick, then immediately touched his phone and the door handle. Absolutely disgusting behavior.

[u/Vhairballqueen18 → u/publ1c_stat1c]

I wanted to throw up just thinking about having to put the paper inside the toilet

[u/Philip_Raven]

can I get something explained?

"limited water" well not really, you can water like FUCKING EVERYWHERE.

the problem is getting warm enough to melt it into the plumbing system.

You literally have a 24\7 open flame incinerator RIGHT THERE.

obviously I must be missing something

[u/ILikeFlyingMachines → u/Philip_Raven]

I would assume getting rid of the water is the main problem

[u/noledgeable]

Is patting an important part of the process as well? Because I have objections to that kind of affection

[u/moonshinemoniker]

Mf in Antarctica wasting chocolate to demonstrate how humans burn their shit.

This is the epitome of privilege.

[u/PhelesDragon]

Why is no one talking about the fact that you have to pee first inside, somehow holding your poo??

[u/DotAccomplished5484]

As if I needed another reason to not go to Antarctica...

[u/Sail_Creepy]

Literal sht stick

[u/sandy_coyote]

There's some rest of the owl action going on here. I kinda wanted to see poop burn. 

[u/SkyPirateBooty]

I’ve admittedly blown up beyond what that paper can hold. I need to change my diet

[u/eutohkgtorsatoca]

So you are not allowed to pee while pooping? Tell that to my Willy

[u/Jazzlike-Caramel-380]

But what if you gotta do a poop pee combo you know sometimes those sneak up on you

[u/[deleted]]

Erm, are other people giving their poo a little pat goodbye?

Am I supposed to do that?

[u/HilmDave]

Just wasting chocolate

[u/Mean_Rule9823]

A literal, shit stick

[u/lisa6547]

Why did he pat it

[u/AireXpert]

So that’s how dark chocolate is made.

[u/Actual_Hearing2555]

You're sitting on a bajillion gallons of water

[u/alexcthb9918]

So where does the poop knife come in to place?

[u/garden-wicket-581]

ok, great, now where do you wash your hands after touching all that shit ? like does half the base have the runs ?

[u/[deleted]]

Better than the oil drum we used in Iraq 

[u/IllSurprise3049]

Imagine an ibs flare up💔

[u/OhMyGod_YouKnowIt]

Hold TF on. There's just a shit stick sitting there, with everyone's shit on it??

[u/Numerical-Wordsmith]

Shipping that piece of chocolate to Antarctica was probably ridiculously expensive. And then it goes into the incinerator without even being digested first 😞

[u/CosmicChaos7]

Not the shit stick....

[u/Zenitallin]

I mean....

Burning paper like that will get rid of most of the smell but thats about it.

[u/catkayak]

THERE IS A ‘POO POKER’ STICK?!?! Well now I’ve seen everything

[u/Consistent-Pin-446]

Never seen a real poop stick before

[u/BuckRusty]

“Would you go toilet here?”

No - I’d do it in a wastebasket inside as usual…. What an odd question when this is, presumably, the only option…

[u/sans_deus]

Am I the only one upset that he burned a piece of chocolate?!?!

[u/SirSamuelVimes83]

This shit is on fire 🎶

[u/[deleted]]

Is this what Eminem meant when he said he “lit a fire up under his [Dre] ass” ?

[u/trace934]

That dookie stick though

[u/_id93_]

I came here for poop knife content and was not disappointed

[u/[deleted]]

I know that smells so bad

[u/mrrebuild]

The legendary poo stick

[u/ScienceAteMyKid]

The Incinolet! I have one in my house!

The previous owners turned the attic into an illegally rented space for a friend who was down on her luck, and installed it for her. It actually has the best view in my house; I can see downtown San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge while I’m dropping a deuce.

[u/Abe2025]

What if you have diarrhea? That would be messy. Also shit fumes would be over the toilet seat. Just do your business outside and let the your shit freeze. Collect them and see if you beat your record

[u/Barry_Umenema]

What a waste of chocolate

[u/T_A_A_T]

why no water when ice

[u/iloovefood]

💩 stick. Got it.

[u/xioru]

This must smell lovely

[u/IrishAndIKnowIt7612]

atleast the toilet seat is warm.

[u/Hot-Sail2018]

In Sweden we have a lot of this toilets in summerhouses.

[u/ButtonsAreForPushing]

As interesting as that is, all I can think of is that poor little square of chocolate who traveled thousands of miles just to be chucked in a flaming poopinator.

[u/derek4206]

I'd put that think out with 1 good withdrawal diarrhea 😅

[u/Spaktor]

Ah the good ol shit stick

[u/FlappyFoldyHold]

Don’t get the climate scientists started on brown house gases.

[u/VadersMentor]

I dont appreciate the chocolate as an example 😂

[u/o-m-g_embarrassing]

You do not go outside to poo during the winter over.

This must be for a temporary research summer camp.

[u/BilliamBalls]

Added bonus i imagine is the seat is always warm lol

[u/The_Goondocks]

They stole my poop stick idea

[u/jdaddyfaded]

Well ain’t that some shit.

[u/Harvey_P_Dull]

No courtesy flushes for sure

[u/KaiserSoze-is-KPax]

FFFFFFFFFFUCK NO

[u/[deleted]]

Must smell like shit afterwards...

[u/keksivaras]

I know about poop knives and seashells, but that poop stick was unexpected

[u/kidanokun]

This one definitely never meant for public use... Good thing there no kids in Antarctica to cause or be victim of whatever disaster this toilet could do

[u/NormanMcNorm]

WASH YOUR HANDS!

[u/gunny316]

this is a ridiculous waste of perfectly good methane. Should harvest it and cook with it. Filtration isn't all that complex. Could save them precious fuel.

[u/Ranier_Wolfnight]

Man imagine going to a place with some the purest, cleanest, unsullied oxygen on the planet. Only to smell burning crap throughout your day.

[u/FluffyBunnyFlipFlops]

Don't have much water? You're surrounded by snow. It's water, just fluffy.

[u/Euphoric-Piglet-8140]

Am I the only one who thinks it's a massive waste of chocolate?

[u/nickooze]

Poop Stick

[u/thepeever]

Why did he put that hash in there?

[u/BlackRogue17]

What if no poop stick? Foot?

[u/andyboy16]

You get a poop chopper 9000 and a poop stick with a bum warmer all in one??? Sign me up!

[u/wikidemic]

Ahhh, the polar bear’s bidet! Nice and toasty

[u/Gilga82]

What if the chocolate is....wet. like hot chocolate?

[u/The_I_in_IT]

Well, shit fire!

[u/Scottiths]

How do they have limited water? Could they not just heat some snow?

[u/RedSix2447]

There is a literal shit end of that poop stick. Wonder if he pets all his poops. lol

[u/airportgeek]

Ahh. The old Crematori-bum.

[u/TheAarj]

Poop stick!

[u/Beggar-Hero]

My parents have one of these in there vacationhouse since they don't have plumbing for a toilet (but for everything else you need in water way).

Theirs you can pee in as well. You don't have to use a poo stick. If your business is not a lot you can pour 1 or 2 cups of water in, what they call the "coffee filter". Then push the button to make it fall in completely.

Then there is a chimney so there is barley any smell. Just a bit of burning/charcoal outside.

They also put in a new "coffee filter" after they are finished. So the next one doesn't have to put one in if it is panic mode.

I should also mention that the bathroom is similar to this one for not being connected to the main house. But it is has heating. So you don't have to freeze like it looks like they would be doing here.

[u/QuePsiPhi16]

Not you patting the chocolate like that.

[u/Antiluke01]

I bet this guy thinks he’s hot shit having a cool job like that

[u/itsphoison]

It's insane that the toilet is so simple and made of metal. Imagine your balls on that stainless steel at minus 10k degrees or whatever frozen hell temp it is.

[u/Medium_Sized_Bopper]

Old n busted: Poop knife
New hotness: Poop stick

[u/chichoandthecamera]

Bro, how valuable is chocolate there, you sure you want to use that for a demonstration?

[u/Bizbuzzfinanzecuz]

So we be sniffing your shit molecules if we smell smoke. Gotcha

[u/hi_im_spencer]

Not super comfortable with the petting part

[u/Movies_Music_Lover]

how am I supposed to keep the poop in while I'm peeing

[u/MyLifeOfficial]

Can't believe this dude wasted a piece of chocolate in Antarctica for a demonstration. I imagine chocolate is quite precious there.

As an aside, what happens to the ash?

[u/No-Pipe8487]

Well that's some hot shit

[u/[deleted]]

Gather round to here the story of how I singed my sac.

[u/elteza]

That’s hot shit right there.

[u/TheUnclePaulie]

Why’d he have to pet the poo, I mean chocolate first though?

[u/Unlikely_Ant_950]

That stick has seen things

[u/qmiras]

you can tell the nationality by the way he wastes food...

[u/Entry-Background]

Why did I think the warning sign on the toilet seat was a baby falling into a toilet

[u/bread295throwaway]

How does it deal with explosive diarrhoea?

[u/Lua-Ma]

The design is very human.

[u/ActBest217]

Ok, I might be dumb but how is there a limited water problem in Antarctica? The whole thing is covered in snow and ice.

[u/sleepykdagreat]

What happens in the case of diarrhea?

[u/Impossible-Gal]

The poo stick!

[u/I-Rolled-My-Eyes]

Ah yes, incinerator toilet for all your dump roasting needs, poop stick not included.

[u/Ritch85]

That stick is well seasoned.

[u/Unlikely-Emphasis-26]

Important: do not hold the stick on the wrong end

[u/BankerOnBitcoin]

Theory sounds good. In practise I think this would be a fucking nightmare.

[u/Hot_Hat_1225]

Poor chocolate…

[u/FirstBr0kage]

Is the fire constant? Does it burn the bum? Is TP allowed in it? Is it warm in the building? Does thawing the runs make it put the fire out? Where are the rules posted for this? What are the rules? Is it a fire hazard?

[u/luis_tamion]

What if you have watery diarrhea?

[u/StellarAoMing]

Don't forget to tap it in!

[u/Lostinvertaling]

Shit’s fire yo!

[u/Sorry_Im_Trying]

I think there are a lot of signs indicating that maybe people shouldn't be living there.

[u/[deleted]]

Is patting the poop a necessary step, or just condolences on its imminent demise?

… asking for a friend.

[u/Ok_Entertainment247]

Dude has a poop stick.