going for the green

LONDON — A British heritage charity is encouraging employees to help the environment by eschewing indoor toilets and relieving themselves outdoors.

The experiment applies to male gardening staff at Wimpole Hall, a stately home about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of London.

The National Trust, which runs the property, says the staff are being encouraged to urinate on straw which is then placed on compost heaps.

The trust said Friday that the chemical reaction helps the composting process, while the absence of flushing by 10 members of staff could cut the estate's water use by almost a third.

Officials warned the gardeners to make sure they urinate in spots where they cannot be seen by passers-by.