One technique promoted by a nineteenth century vicar was the "earth
closet". Simply a pan in a box you shit in, then pull a lever to cover
in dried earth. It was expected that one would then take the pan out to
the midden, empty, and allow to rot. He found this made a highly
effective fertiliser, and was less smelly, for self and neighbours than
the w.c. and cess pit arrangement it replaced. He proposed this as a
cheaper and less wasteful alternative to comventional plumbing.