However, if you are shopping for a composting toilet, you may be a bit confused by the selection and the different models currently available. There are literally dozens of compost toilet manufacturers offering a variety of different types and features on composting toilets to choose from. However, there are two basic different types of composting toilets that you must choose between: self-contained or split (also known as “remote”).

Self-contained compost toilets are ideal for small homes and spaces. They are quite easy to install and are often ready to go right out of the box. There are both electric and non-electric versions that you can purchase. Electric versions usually have a fan that helps maintain the correct moisture density within the composting chamber. They also tend to be cheaper than the split composting toilet models.

Some of the down-sides of self-contained models include the small number of individuals they can adequately serve – most models cannot handle more than two people, and some may only be suitable for one individual to use on a daily basis. They may also appear a bit bulky, and many models are quite tall and require a foot stool for use. Some consumers find them more difficult to maintain as well, since the smaller size requires more frequent monitoring to make sure the compost stays in balance.

Split, or remote, composting toilets are the best choice if you will be having multiple individuals using the toilet on a daily basis. With a spit model, the composting chamber will be located in a different part of the house (usually directly beneath the toilet in a basement area) and many models look very similar to a regular flush toilet.

Split compost toilets generally are more expensive than self-contained models and require additional installation and plumbing costs. You also need adequate space and an appropriate space to install these units in your house. However, when you factor in the savings you will have in water costs and sewage or septic system maintenance costs, these units should still be a good economical choice.

In sum, by taking into careful consideration the number of people who will be using the composting toilet and the space available in your house, you should be able to find a composting toilet that works well for you and is the right choice for the environment as well. Just watch this clip of a National Geographic special about composting toilets to learn more about the importance of composting toilets to our environment and the world.

Bill Boor has written numerous articles about composting toilet systems and portable composting toilets.

Fortunately there are now new portable composting toilet models being manufactured that are ideal for campers, boaters and RVs.  And if you aren’t interested in purchasing a ready-made composting toilet for your next outing, there is also the option to build a cheap portable composting toilet at your final destination in a matter of a few hours.

Manufactured Portable Composting Toilets

There are now several models of portable composting toilets on the market:

Camping Composting Toilets

ne of the main reasons to purchase a portable camping toilet is to take care of the environment you will camping in, and you can take this step even further by using composting or environmental camping toilets. These models will avoid using any chemicals in their processing of waste, and will instead rely on composting and similar processes to dispose of waste in an environmentally responsible manner.

For those who love spending time outdoors, taking time to care for the environment should be of the upmost importance. Portable composting toilets can help manage and dispose waste without using chemicals, thus protecting the environment.

One of the most popular models is the the PETT Environmental Toilet. This portable composting toilet can be used by individuals up to an amazing 500 pound weight limit. When folded, however, it is about the size of a small briefcase. It is light-weight, about seven pounds, and is a popular unit used by the Forest and Park Service as well as FEMA. The PETT toilet uses an environmentally safe powder to help gel liquids, remove odor and promote decay inside the unit’s biodegradable bags.

Another very good option is the BoiToi portable camping toilet. The Boi-Toi also uses 100% compostable and biodegradable bio-bags to dispose of waste. The model is used globally by NATO forces.

Each of the Bio Bags will decompose within 40 days when composted properly. This means it one of the most environmentally friendly portable camping toilet models available. It is also very lightweight (4.4 lbs) and affordable as well, costing under $50.

Click Here For More Environmental Portable Camping Toilet Options!

Large Portable Composting Toilets

If you are looking for a portable composting toilet similar to the portable toilets you see at fairs and other outdoor events, or your recreational vehicle or boat, there are several decent ones available on the market. Nature’s Head has a small self-contained composting toilet that is quite popular with boaters. You will need no chemicals to maintain this composting toilet. The only thing you will need to add is peat moss to keep the composting mixture balanced in terms of green and brown organic matter.

The Sun-Mar Self-Contained Composting Toilet is another excellent choice in terms of medium sized portable composting toilet (although also a bit pricey – it costs around $1800 U.S.).

Building a Composting Toilet on Site

Finally, if you are interested in an even cheaper option for a composting toilet outdoors, you can try building a composting toilet toilet on site cheaply using five gallon composting containers.  If you are interested in learning how to build your own composting toilet, you can read the instructions here.

For even more information about composting toilets, including articles on How Toilet Composting Works and the Environemental Benefits of Composting Toilets, please return to the Toilet Composting Home Page.

Below you will find links to articles from this website answering some of the most common questions I have encountered regarding composting toilets.  (If you are unable to find an answer to your question, or have questions or comments about the answers I have posted, feel free to send me an email using the contact information provided above):

1. Five Top Questions about Composting Toilets.  Fast answers to some of the most common questions people have about compost toilets.
2. What are Composting Toilets? A discussion of the basics of a composting toilet system and how it works.
3. What is Humanure and What Can I do With It? Answers questions about how to use and the safety of the compost produced by composting toilet systems.
4. What Can You Put in a Compost Toilet? Besides the obvious (human waste, toilet paper), there are many other ways most composting toilet systems can be used to process organic household waste.  This article discusses the many different ways you can use a compost toilet in your home.
5. How Much Do Composting Toilet Cost? If you are considering purchasing a composting toilet, you may initially be surprised by the price tag.  But composting toilets are actually an excellent investment for your home, and this article explains why.
6. Where Can Composting Toilets be Used? You may be surprised at all the locations suitable for composting toilets.
7. What is Wrong with a Flush Toilet? Read this article to find out.
8. Are Composting Toilets Safe? This article answers some of the concerns you may have about the safety of composting toilets and humanure.
   
9. What are the Environmental Benefits of Composting Toilets? An excellent discussion of why composting toilets are a good choice for the environment.
10. Where can I learn more about composting toilets? For more articles about the fundamentals of composting toilets and how they work,  check out the “Composting Toilet Basics” section of this website.  To learn about what kind of composting toilet system is right for you, you should check out “Composting Toilet Systems.”  If you are interested in reading reviews about different manufacturers of composting toilets, check out the “Composting Toilet Reviews” category of this website.  There are also pages devoted to documenting many Online Resources for composting toilets, and suggestions for Books on Composting Toilets that you can read.  You can also return to the Toilet Composting Homepage to read the most recent posts about composting toilets.

Self-contained composting toilets are ideal for individuals and occasional use in a cottage or vacation home (for more about these models, read “Self Contained Composting Toilets“), but if you have more than two individuals interested in using a composting toilet on a daily basis, you should consider installing a remote composting toilet system.

There are many advantages to remote composting toilet systems.   The primary advantage is their ability to service multiple users.  Some models are built to be able to service up to ten individuals on a daily basis (for an example, check out the Envirolet Waterless Remote Composting Toilet).

Another advantage is that aesthetically these toilets look very similar to regular flush toilets.  Some composting toilet users may find the self-contained models to be too large and bulky.  With remote composting toilets, only the toilet itself will be in your bathroom.  The composting chamber will be located either in a basement or outside your home.

Remote composting toilet systems also tend to come with many additional features not found in the self-contained models.  For example, Envirolet creates remote composting toilet models in many brilliant colors (including bright pink).  There are also micro-flush and vacuum-flush composting toilets that closely mimic regular flush toilets in term of use (but without the enormous waste of water).

There are some disadvantages to remote systems, however.  The primary problem for many is finding an appropriate location for composting chamber.  This can be a particular challenge if you home does not have a basement and experiences freezing temperatures outdoors.

Another disadvantage may be the cost.  Remote composting toilets, because of their larger size and additional parts, can cost significantly more than a self-contained composting toilet (for more information, read “How Much Do Composting Toilets Cost?“).  And additional costs will be incurred during the actual installation of these units, which usually requires professional assistance.

However, for those seeking a composting toilet that can adequately serve multiple users on a daily basis, remote composting toilets provide the best answer.  Not purchasing a composting toilet model large enough to deal with the amount of waste being generated can result in enormous problems for owners, and should be avoided at all costs.  Even though there is additional costs and efforts associated with a remote composting system, you will find it is well worth the expense and effort.

For more information about composting toilet systems, including articles about “Composting Toilet Basics” and “Composting Toilet Reviews,” please return to the Toilet Composting Homepage.

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There are several advantages to choosing a self-contained composting toilet.  First, they are much easier to install than a remote composting toilet system.  In fact, other than installing a vent for the toilet, you will need to do little when you install the unit.  You will not need to hook the toilet up to a basement composting chamber with a self-contained composting toilet. With a self-contained composting toilet, you are getting an “all in one” unit.  The toilet and the composting bin are combined in the unit, with the composting process going on right under the seat.

Because there are few installation costs involved, and because the units are more compact and fewer parts than remote systems, self-contained composting toilets also tend to be a much cheaper option when compared to remote composting toilet systems.  (For more on the price of composting toilets, read “How Much Do Composting Toilets Cost?“)

However, this is also a disadvantage for some as well: because of their small size, self-contained composting units only have a limited capacity. If there are more than two individuals using the toilet year round, a self-contained composting toilet system is not for you.  In fact, even two individuals may overburden many models, and you need to choose your model carefully if for more than one individual.  Self contained composting toilets are probably most ideal for occasional usage in cottages or seasonal and vacation homes, or for year around usage by a single individual.

Most composting toilet manufacturers produce self-contained composting toilets (some also produce remote systems as well).  You will find that manufacturers like Sun-Mar, BioLet, and Envirolet all have several self-contained composting toilet models to choose from, each with its own unique features.  You should certainly compare the models and read different composting toilet reviews before making your final selection.

If you have more than two people who will be using a composting toilet, or if you are just interested in learning more about remote composting toilet systems, take a look at the article “Remote (Central, or Split) Composting Toilet Systems.” These systems are generally ideal for year-round usage by families or large groups.

For more articles about composting toilets, including “Composting Toilet Basics” please return to the Toilet Composting Homepage.

Most composting toilet manufacturers state this is a problem with how these models are being operated.  Users must add the proper amount of dry carbon materials when they are using them (sawdust, peat moss and the like) and electric fans and heating elements should also help eliminate excess liquid as well.  Still, many find that finding the proper balance is a challenge and often are discouraged or angry when their composting toilets become out of balance.

The Nature’s Head composting toilet may be a solution for those who are frustrated with dealing with excess liquid in their toilets.  This composting toilet has a unique internal separation device the diverts urine into a separate tank (to be emptied frequently by the user), thus keeping the other portion of the composting toilet essentially dry (in fact, you made need to add moisture to this toilet in order to ensure complete and proper composting).

The Nature’s Head composting toilet models also are a bit easier on the pocket book than many other composting toilet systems.  The basic Nature’s Head Composting Toilet starts at $850, nearly half the price of a Sun-Mar mobile composting toilet which is designed for similar purposes (marine and recreational vehicle use.  The unique design features of the Sun-Mar Mobile are discussed in the article “Composting Toilets for Boats“).

However, Nature’s Head composting toilets are not for everyone.  These models were specifically designed for mobile applications (campers, boats, trailers and the like) and have a limited user capacity.  They are built for small spaces, but may seem a bit small for residential purposes.  If more than a couple of people will be using your composting toilet, you will probably be better off considering a remote composting toilet system rather than a small, self-contained model such as that being produced by Nature’s Head.

Nature’s head is a fairly new company on the composting toilet front and do not have a huge track record to back them up (“head” is the term boaters use to refer to toilets, hence the name “Nature’s Head”).  The company is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama and started production and shipping of their composting toilets in June, 2007.  The few reviews that I have found and read, however, have been quite positive.

If you are interested in reading more about portable composting toilets for marine, camping and other outdoor applications, as well as additional articles covering the basics of toilet composting and other manufacturer reviews, please return to the Toilet Composting website.

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Some of the benefits of using a composting toilet in an RV include not having to worry any more about where you will next be able to “pump out” our toilet waste.  You will no longer need chemicals or to carry water to flush or treat the toilet waste you are carrying in your vehicle.  And the end product of the composting process is a rich, soil like substance (humus) that is a valuable soil additive that actually benefits the environment.

Some of the challenges you might face when installing a composting toilet in your RV include space considerations.  Not only will you need enough space in your RV to be able to install the composting toilet, but you will also need to ensure you have adequate space to empty the finishing drawer easily as well.  Price may also be a consideration, with most composting toilet models starting over $1000 U.S.  Power may also be an issue, as you will need a continual power supply to run the fans for the electric models.

If you are considering purchasing a composting toilet for your RV, you should purchase a model designed specifically for applications that involve movement – marine or vehicle composting toilets.  These models have features not found in regular composting toilets that ensure the composting materials stay within the composting drum during rough roads and sharp turns.  They will generally have special gasket systems that prevent leakage, and possibly rotating drums to ensure the material is always in an upright position.

Many manufacturers that specializing in making mobile composting toilets, such as the Sun-Mar corporation and Nature’s Head, have developed many space saving features on these models that make them attractive to RV owners (such as folding foot rests).  As long as your unit is sized properly for the number of individuals using it, a composting toilet can be an excellent alternative to traditional portable RV toilet systems.  However, do not overburden your composting toilet by selecting a toilet too small for the number of users.  If you do so, you will end up having to empty a toilet with only partially composted waste – not a pleasant undertaking.

After you have installed your composting toilet, you can then move onto installing your RV solar roof panels, wind turbine, and converting your RV to run off of biodiesel and used vegetable oil.  Or maybe not – just some suggestions.

For more information about mobile and portable composting toilets, answers to commonly asked questions about toilet composting systems, composting toilet manufacturer reviews and more, please return to the Toilet Composting home page.

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And besides these practical advantages, composting toilets have additional environmental advantages to consider as well.  A compost toilet will help save on water usage, eliminate the need for chemicals to treat waste, and produce a valuable end product that can be used in place of chemical fertilizers around trees, flowers and other plants.

However, composting toilets also present certain challenges for boaters as well.  They must be constructed so as to be able to handle a considerable amount of turbulence.  There is a problem regarding the space requirements of many self-contained composting toilets, and the power requirements as well: most composting toilet models require that a vessel have enough power so that they can run a 12-volt, 4 watt fan continuously, and a heating unit occasionally (to control moisture and prevent odors).

Fortunately in recent years several manufacturers have stepped up to the challenge and started to produce composting toilets meant specifically for marine use.  The Sun Mar Mobile is one such example.  With this model, the Sun Mar corporation created a special mechanism to ensure the composting drum is always held in upright position during “violent motion.”  They also developed a special gasket system around the finishing drawer to ensure there are no leaks from it as well during rough weather.   Space modifications features were put in place to that more vessels can accommodate them (such as fold-up foot rests) and special filters were installed for the vent stack so there are no odors at deck level.  The model is not cheap, however, and starts around $1600, but it is an excellent example of a composting toilet built specifically for marine uses.

The space requirements will still be a challenge for smaller craft, however.  If you are considering purchasing a composting toilet you need to ensure that it will be able accommodate the number of people using it, otherwise you will end up with an overflowing toilet with unfinished compost inside.  The Sun Mar Mobile is suitable for one person, possibly two, but would not be able to accommodate any more people except for occasional outings.  You will also need to provide some space to store the dry carbon matter that is used instead of water for these models (sawdust and peat moss are probably the most commonly used materials).  And you need to ensure that there is adequate space to be able to remove and empty the finishing drawer once the compost is ready.

If you are interested in learning more about the composting process, you should read the article “Toilet Composting Basics.”  If you would like to learn more about what you can do with the finished compost from a composting toilet, read “What is Humanure and What Can I Do with It?“  Otherwise, return to the Toilet Composting Homepage, where you will find many additional articles and resources regarding composting toilets.

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Because the composting toilets manufactured for marine use are self-contained models, you will need enough space to accommodate both the toilet itself as well as room to pull out the composting drawer.  There will be no additional plumbing required for most models.  However, in order to lessen potential for odor and to help maintain the composting system in order, most system use a fan and your boat will need to have adequate power to be able to continuously run the fan (usually 4 watts, 12 volts).

In terms of cost, marine composting toilets can compare quite favorably against the cost of other marine toilet systems, particularly those that require a holding tank for waste. Most marine composting models run around $1200 or more. Although it may be tempting to go with a slightly cheaper self-contained composting toilet not built specifically for marine uses, you may regret this decision due to the specific challenges boats present in terms of properly containing the waste during bad weather.

For example, the Sun Mar Mobile composting toilet, probably one of the most sophisticated marine composting toilets currently on the market, currently costs around $1600.  It can be used by one to two people full time use, and possibly accommodate even more for weekend outings.  Sun Mar has put a lot of effort into designing a toilet that will deal well with “violent motion.”  For their mobile unit, they made sure that the finishing drawer was gasketed in a manner so that absolutely no liquid could escape, and they also built a special drum locker that could ensure that the composting drum is continually held in an upright position.  Additional special modifications for marine units include such features as fold-up foot rests and activated carbon and zeolite filters to ensure that there is no odors on the deck where the vent stack protrudes.

From an environmental standpoint, marine composting toilets are beneficial for multiple reasons, but not the least because they do not require any chemical additives, require no water to maintain, and create an end product (humus) that is a valuable soil additive that actually benefits the environment (instead of a waste product that needs to be treated and disposed of properly).  The compost that is produced by marine composting toilets is absolutely sanitary and can used to fertilize a wide variety of plants and trees (for more, read “What are the Environmental Benefits of Composting Toilets?” and “What is Humanure and What Can I do with It?“)

Self-contained composting toilets are generally Coast Guard Certified Type III MSD.   For more information about composting toilets, you can also read “Toilet Composting Basics” or return to the Toilet Composting Information Home Page, where you will find dozens of informative articles about composting toilets.

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Similarities between Homemade and Manufactured Compost Toilets

Each type of composting system will be used in basically the same manner.  After using the toilet, you will add some brown organic matter (for example, peat moss or sawdust) to keep the compost balanced between green and brown matter.  Also, both homemade and manufactured composting toilets will produce the same end product: a rich compost that can be used to amend soil around trees, bushes, flowers and non-edible plants.

Differences between Homemade and Manufactured Compost Toilets

One of the major differences is how the composting process will work with each of these systems.  With a manufactured system, the composting will generally take place within a centralized composting chamber located beneath the toilet, in a series of rotating buckets, or with self-contained models, right under the seat.

Some models will have a built in turning system to speed up the process, others will provide ample space so that the compost will move slowly downwards over time and will be fully composted by the time it reaches the bottom of the chamber.  With manufactured toilets, users will only come in contact with the toilet contents once they are fully compost and ready to be used.

Homemade compost toilets, on the other hand, generally rely on a small container under the compost toilet being emptied into an outdoors compost bin.  With a homemade compost toilet, users will have to empty uncomposted materials into the compost bin where the composting process will then take place.

Advantages of a Manufactured Compost Toilet

The ease of use is one of the main advantages of a manufactured composting toilet.  Users will not have to haul waste to an outdoor composting toilet, nor will they have to worry about turning the composting waste, animals entering the compost bins and so forth.  Although users do need to ensure that there is a right balance of brown and green composting materials in the chamber (by making sure they add brown matter when using the toilet), most manufactured compost toilets require little effort from their owners.

Other advantages of manufactured compost toilets are their aesthetics and comfort.   Many models look remarkably similar to flush toilets (there are even micro flush composting toilets that are nearly identical in appearance to flush toilets).  Most models are manufactured for maximum comfort and ease of use.

Finally, many manufactured compost toilets have been certified by different health and sanitation agencies, and this can assist with getting local permits approving these systems.

Advantages of Homemade Compost Toilets

The primary advantage of a homemade compost toilet is the price: you can build your own composting toilet for under $50 in materials.  For those wanting a quick and cheap set up, you can not beat a homemade compost toilet.

Many would argue that another huge advantage of building your own compost toilet is the sense of accomplishment you will have and the intimate knowledge you will develop regarding the composting process.

For more information, comparisons and reviews of toilet composting systems, return to the Toilet Composting Homepage.

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]]> http://toilet-composting.com/homemade-and-manufactured-compost-toilets-compared/feed/ 0 http://toilet-composting.com/micro-flush-and-vacuum-flush-composting-toilets/ http://toilet-composting.com/micro-flush-and-vacuum-flush-composting-toilets/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:17:23 +0000 M Day http://toilet-composting.com/?p=152 Continue reading]]> Most composting toilets developed to date have been “dry” in design, meaning they use no water to flush waste, thus helping preserve this valuable and rapidly diminishing global resource.  Every year composting toilets prevent millions of gallons of water from being unnecessarily flushed away.  But for some consumers, it has been difficult to adjust to the change in technology involved with dry composting technology, and they have been reluctant to adopted composting toilets because of the lack of a flushing mechanism even though they may be supportive of the technology for environmental and social reasons.

In order to help encourage the use of composting toilets by these consumers, there have been several “micro-flush” and “vacuum flush” composting toilets designed by manufacturers during the past decade. These models closely resemble a conventional  flush toilet.  In fact, some users may not even be aware that they are using a composting toilet at all!

Although micro-flush composting toilets are not waterless, the amount of water they use is still much less than with even low flush conventional toilets.  Micro-flush composting toilets are still able to save thousands of gallons of water each year from being flushed away.

Micro-flush toilet composting models generally use less than half a liter to flush waste into a centralized reactor (composting chamber) located beneath the composting toilet.  Some micro-flush composting toilets also rely on vacuum flush technology to ensure the waste travels quickly and completely to the composting chamber, and also helps eliminate some of the problems with finding a suitable location for the composting chamber.  The vacuum flush system also helps ensures that these models are completely odor free as well (although odor is not usually a problem with any electric composting toilet model that is properly maintained).

An example of this technology can be found with the Envirolet VF composting toilet which can flush waste up to seventy feet away and upwards up to twelve feet using vacuum flush technology.  These models are not as cheap as regular composting toilet models (the Envirolet VF model starts around $3200), but for those interested in a composting toilet that closely resembles a regular flush toilet it is an excellent choice.

Because composting toilets rely an aerobic decomposition, excess water will need to be drained from most micro flush composting toilet models.  This is because with excess water in the system, proper composting will not occur and the system may revert to anaerobic decomposition instead (for an explanation of these terms, read “How Toilet Composting Works“).

Some may argue that instead of creating new composting models that resemble conventional flush toilets, consumers should simply adjust to the most appropriate and environmentally friendly technology.  This may be the ideal, but micro flush composting toilets can encourage many consumers to take the step towards switching to a composting toilet system when they may not otherwise do so.  Given the environmental benefits of micro flush composting toilets when compared to conventional flush toilets, this is definitely a step in the right direction.

For more information and useful articles about composting toilets, including reviews of other types of composting toilet systems and models, please return to the Toilet Composting homepage.

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]]> http://toilet-composting.com/micro-flush-and-vacuum-flush-composting-toilets/feed/ 0 http://toilet-composting.com/incinerating-desiccating-and-composting-toilet-comparisons/ http://toilet-composting.com/incinerating-desiccating-and-composting-toilet-comparisons/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:17:18 +0000 M Day http://toilet-composting.com/?p=123 Continue reading]]> Every year, flush toilet systems waste enormous amount of water resources, cause environmental harm and incur massive social expenditures (for more information, read “What is Wrong with a Flush Toilet?“).  There are many important reasons to switch from a flush toilet system to an alternative toilet system, and in this article I will compare three popular alternative to flush toilets: Incinerating Toilets, Desiccating Toilets and Composting Toilets.

1) Incinerating Toilets. Incinerating toilets rely on electricity or gas to burn waste.  Burn cycles typically take between five and thirty minutes, after which all human waste is turned into ash.  These models do require quite a bit of electricity to run, and some consumers complain that they are quite noisy during the burn cycles.  EcoJohn is currently one of the most popular manufacturers of incinerating toilets.

2) Desiccating Toilets.  Desiccating toilets (also known as dehydrating toilets, solar toilets or drying toilets), are best suited to arid climates where dry ambient air can be circulated into the toilet chamber so that any moisture is eliminated.  When this works properly, the end-result will be both dry and odorless.  Solarsan is a popular manufacturer of dehydrating toilets.

Desiccating toilets must be designed as to divert urine from the chamber in which the feces will be drying in order for them to work properly (the urine can be used for fertilizing applications if so desired).  The drying process usually take several months to complete, after which they can burned, composted or buried.

3) Composting Toilets. Composting toilets systems operate by encouraging aerobic decomposition.  Most composting toilets can reduce organic waste to between 10 and 30 percent of original volume.  The end-product of the composting process is a rich, soil-like material called humus, which can be used as a valuable soil additive.   There are currently many competing manufacturers of composting toilets globally: Sun-Mar, Envirolet, and BioLet are some brand names you may come across when researching different models.  (You can read reviews of some of these models here).

Each of these systems has its advantages and disadvantages.  Desiccating toilets are possibly the best choice in dry areas, incinerating toilets work well for families that want quick disposal of waste without water, and composting toilets can help recycle not only human waste but also other organic waste produced by the household (such as vegetable scraps).

However, there is one prime benefit to composting toilets that neither the incinerating or desiccating toilet system provides: the valuable end-product of humus, a valuable soil additive.  In this way composting toilets not only help eliminate the use of water from toilet systems, but also produce a valuable resource in the process.

If you are interested in reading more about the advantages and disadvantages of composting toilets, please visit the Toilet Composting Home Page where you will find numerous articles about composting toilet systems, including portable composting models suitable for camping and other outdoor applications.

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A portable composting toilet is ideal for camping excursions

In order to protect the environment of national parks and trails, hikers and campers should follow the “Leave No Trace” guidelines. These guidelines help ensure that no individual leaves behind waste that others will encounter while on the trail, and this applies to every kind of waste.  I can remember how on one of my earliest hiking adventures I came upon a disgusting mess of toilet paper and human waste left on the side of the trail.  If you are planning a family camping trip in the near future, you should consider investing in a portable composting toilet to help ensure you follow the “leave no waste” guidelines and leave the outdoor areas as clean as they were before you arrived.

The idea of bringing a portable composting toilet with you to the outdoors might have you envisioning lugging a port-o-potty along with your family on the trail.  But be assured there are other much more reasonable and lightweight options.  Most portable composting toilets on the market will weigh less than five pounds, and will fold down to an easily packable size.  Most models rely on you decomposable composting bags that you will pack-out with you when you return home.

For example, the Nature Bio-Toilet is ideal for family camping excursions. It folds up to only 4 inches high, and weighs less than five pounds.  This model is quite affordable and can be purchased online from Cabelas for around $50.  The toilet can support individuals who weigh up to 250 pounds.

Another option is the PETT Environmental Composting Toilet (pictured above).  This very portable toilet is used by Forest and Park Services and can hold up to 800 pounds, while only weighing 7 pounds.  Pair this with a Cabana portable shelter for privacy if you like as well.

Finally, one of my favorite designs is the Jimmy’s Thunderbox portable composting toilet, made by an Australian manufacturer.  It folds down to less than an inch in height, sets up in just minutes, and weighs well under 10 pounds.  You’ll have to order and have it shipped from Australia if you are interested in using it on your next camping outing, however, so be sure to allow adequate time for delivery.

Please take the time to ensure you are well prepared for your next camping outing by looking into investing in a portable composting toilet.  By doing so you will be able to ensure you truly “leave no trace” and help protect our natural environment.

For more information about portable composting toilet systems suitable for outdoor applications (including larger models that are ideal for large outdoor events), or about toilet composting in general, please return to the Toilet Composting Home Page, where you will find many articles covering the basics of the toilet composting process and answers to commonly asked questions about the safety and advantages of switching to a composting toilet system.

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]]> http://toilet-composting.com/portable-composting-toilet-campin/feed/ 0 http://toilet-composting.com/build-composting-toilet-information-and-plans/ http://toilet-composting.com/build-composting-toilet-information-and-plans/#comments Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:09:04 +0000 M Day http://toilet-composting.com/?p=87 Continue reading]]> How to Build a Composting Toilet

If you are looking for a way to lessen your ecological footprint and participate positively in solutions to improve the environment, then you should seriously consider switching from a flush toilet to a composting toilet system.  Flush toilets waste enormous amounts of water each year, but composting toilets operate with little or no water and their end product (compost) is a valuable soil amendment as well.

However, one downside of switching to composting toilets is that the manufactured brands can be quite expensive – generally starting around $1500 for a basic, no-frills model.  However, it is possible to build a composting toilet on your own for well under $50 in materials.

Owner built (also called site built) composting toilets are generally passive in design – meaning they rely on natural instead of mechanical forces.  Since they do not have a built in electrical unit, they will need to be monitored more closely than manufactured composting toilets and involve more labor in terms of their care and maintenance (more on this below, in the section “How to Use Your New Composting Toilet”).  However, some would say that with this responsibility comes rewards including an intimate knowledge of how your body is literally recycling waste positively into the environment.

This project will only take a few hours once all items needed to build it are assembled.  The finished composting toilet will be 18” wide and 21” long.

Materials You Will Need to Build a Composting Toilet

• Four to five identical 5 gallon buckets with lids
• A standard sized toilet seat
• A hinged plywood top for the seat to rest on made of 3/4” plywood.  The main portion of the top should measure 18” by 18”, attached with hinges to a 3”x18” board
• A box for the plywood top (and seat) to rest on, measuring 18 by 21 inches in width, and 10” deep.  This can be built from two 10”x18”x1” boards and two 10”x21”x1” boards screwed together.
• Four legs to be attached to the box (3/4” x 3” x 12”) using screws (or a nail and hammer).

You will need to cut a top in the plywood where the seat hole is (draw a circle to cut out using the seat as a template on the top of the composting toilet).  The hole should be set about 1 ½ inches back from the front edge of the plywood.   When screwing or nailing the legs to the inside of the box, be sure that the top edge of the box is about 1/2” below the top edge of the five gallon bucket, so that the rim will sit tight against the underside of the toilet seat.

How to Use Your New Composting Bucket

Now that you have finished your composting toilet, it’s ready to use.  Well, yes, technically, but there are some additional materials you will need to keep the composting process in order:

1) A Compost Bin. Unlike most manufactured, active designs where the composting process takes place inside a chamber attached to the toilet, when you build a composting toilet based on the above passive design, you will have to transport it to a composting bin outdoors for it to undergo the composting process.  You may want to locate this composting bin in your garden next to your normal garden composting pile, and you may need more than one bin if there are many people in your household.  For more information about purchasing or building your own composting bin, visit The Composting Bin Website.

2) Organic “Brown Matter.” This will be used to cover your “deposits” when using the toilet in order to create a balanced compost formula. This can be sawdust, peat moss, leaves, hay straw, rice hulls or any other relatively dry and brown organic matter.

You want to ensure that your composting toilet creates a nutrient-rich compost that is clean and odor-free (this finished compost is often referred to as “humanure”).  To create this, you will need to ensure that whenever anyone uses the toilet, they sprinkle the organic brown matter on top.  The material in the bucket should be moist, but not wet.

Once a bucket is fully, you will need to transport it outside to your composting bin, while placing an empty five gallon bucket in the toilet to replace the full one.  In my experience, people often wait until they have three or four full containers (depending how many they have in reserve) to do all the emptying and cleaning at once.  This is not a terribly pleasant task, although it is also not as unpleasant as you might imagine it to be as well.  Be sure to cover the emptied waste with additional brown material, and to clean the buckets well so that no odors will linger.  You should not need to turn this material, and it should compost on its own to create a rich humus material in six months to a year.

For additional information and articles about composting toilets, please return to the Toilet Composting Home Page.  I hope you have found this information about how to build a composting toilet to be useful.

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]]> http://toilet-composting.com/build-composting-toilet-information-and-plans/feed/ 0 http://toilet-composting.com/types-of-composting-systems/ http://toilet-composting.com/types-of-composting-systems/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:00:50 +0000 M Day http://toilet-composting.com/?p=39 Continue reading]]> Toilet composting systems generally require the following features:

- a container (often called a “reactor”) where the composting process takes place

- some type of exhaust system (often fan-powered) that will help remove water vapor, carbon dioxide and any odors resulting from the composting process

- some manner in which oxygen is supplied to the composting container so that aerobic decomposition can take place

- a way in which excess liquid is drained from the composting materials
a means by which to turn the composting

- an access door to empty the finished composting

How these features are integrated vary according to manufacturers or design plans, but well constructed toilet composting systems should produce finished compost within six months to a year, and should be nearly odor-free during the composting process.

Composting toilet systems are often classified and evaluated according to the following four criteria:

1) Self-Contained Composting Toilets versus Remote (or “Centralized”) Composting Toilets

Self-contained composting toilets are units in which the toilet and the composting chamber form a single unit. Often these units will sit a bit higher than normal flush toilets, and will require a small step stool for users to easily sit on the unit.

Remote composting toilets (sometimes referred to as Centralized Composting Toilets) are systems where the toilet is connected to a composting chamber in another location, often below the toilet in a basement.

2) Batch Composting Toilet Systems versus Continual Process Composting Toilet Systems

Batch Composting Toilet Systems rely upon a single or series of composting containers in which the composting process will take place. Some composting toilet systems use a single composting container which is replaced by hand when full, while others use a carousel system where there are three to four different containers that rotate as they are filled. In the carousel system, by the time the carousel system is full, the first container will have been fully composted and ready to be used as a soil amendment.

Continual Process Composting Toilet Systems generally involve large composting chamber that are placed underneath the composting toilet, often in a basement (although there are some self contained models). Over the course of six months to a year, the composting human waste will gradually move downwards through the system and once it reaches the bottom of the chamber it is ready to be harvested and used. The process by which human waste is composted in continual processing systems varies, but most involve aerobic composition and micro-organisms and sometimes macro-organisms (usually earthworms) as well.

3) Manufactured Composting Toilets versus Site-Built (Owner-Built) Composting Toilets

For those interested in acquiring a composting toilet, there are generally two options: purchase a manufactured composting toilet (of which there are many brands) or build one on site yourself. Site built composting toilets may be considerably cheaper than many manufactured brands, but owners may find it challenging to get these units approved by local health agencies.

4) Active versus Passive Composting Systems

Active composting systems will rely on mixing, aeration and heat.  They often feature automatic mixers, thermostat controlled heaters, tumbling drums, fans and other features to promote quick and odor free waste composting.

Passive composting systems are optimized to rely on natural rather than mechanical forces. Gravity, ambient temperature and the shape of the composting chamber are all optimized to promote efficient composting.

To read more about composting toilets and composting toilet systems, please return to the main page.