However, many users of manufactured composting toilets by Sun-Mar, Envirolet, BioLet and other composting toilet models have had less than ideal experiences with their composting toilets.  As with the problems with homemade composting toilets that I have discussed in my personal account of using a humanure homemade composting toilet, the problems with manufactured composting toilets are frequently due more to user error than due to a problem with the toilet composting system itself.  Still, these problems are common enough to suggest that there needs to be made more effort on the part of manufacturers to properly educate consumers about common problems with these systems and how to avoid them.

Here are some of the common problems users report with different manufactured composting models – as well as some ways these problems may be remedied or avoided altogether.

1. Problems with liquid build up in the composting toilet.

This is by far the most common complaint I have common across in my research of manufactured composting toilets complaints (it also was a problem I experienced with homemade composting toilet buckets, but due to their small size and frequency of being emptied not as significant of a problem, I think).  This fluid is generally a result of people urinating in the toilet.  The composting process will simply not work properly in most composting toilet systems if there is too much fluid in the system.

Some users, and even some manufacturers, recommend not using composting toilets to urinate in, but this does not seem like an adequate solution to me (and many other users).  Particularly for females, it is a hassle to have to urinate in a separate container or outdoors (not to mention that this may be illegal in some areas).  Excess liquid can be controlled, however, by adding adequate amounts of dry material to balance the composting matter and using electric fans and heaters to help evaporate and dispel excess moisture (so for those purchasing non-electric models, extra care will have to be taken to keep the system in order).  In addition, there are now models being manufactured that divert urine away from the “dry” composting area (for fecal matter).  For an example of this system, check out the Nature’s Head composting toilets.

2. Problems with Odor.

A well functioning composting toilet (whether homemade or manufactured) should be odorless.  Odor problems are a sign that there is a serious problem with the system.  Frequently this is due to the liquid issues discussed above.

Composting toilets rely on aerobic decomposition, but with excess liquid, the process will instead convert to anaerobic decomposition (for a discussion of these two processes, read “How Toilet Composting Works“).  Both of these decomposition processes are found in nature, but anaerobic decomposition is the the smelly one, and if your toilet has gotten out of balance, the smell can be quite bad indeed.

To remedy this problem, you need to get your compost back in balance by adding dry matter to it.  Unfortunately, if it is really bad, you may have to remove some of the liquid matter first – a quite unpleasant task – so it is best to try to keep this problem from developing in the first place!

3. Problems with removing the finished compost from the toilet.

There are two significant problems users may encounter when it is time to remove the compost.  First, we return again to the issue of excess liquid – if the mixture is too wet, it will be difficult and smelly removal process (and you may well decide to remove the toilet along with the compost!).

A second issue some users report is a result of overloading the system.  For most composting toilets, you need to make sure the finished compost is removed promptly.  You may also be able to make the process of removal easier by using very lightweight organic brown matter for your dry matter in the composting toilet.  Peat moss may be an ideal medium for most composting toilets (although there may be concerns about using it due to environmental issues).

Switching to any toilet composting system – be it homemade or manufactured – requires a significant change in practice and much education.  Anticipating what are very common problems by users, and providing full disclosure of these issues are and how to resolve them, would be a great benefit many users of these toilet composting systems.  Furthermore, it would also help promote composting toilet usage instead of leaving some composting toilet users frustrated, angry and often abandoning and discouraging others from using a valuable green technology.

For more information about composting toilets and reviews of different composting toilet systems, 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.

Here is a list of several different composting toilet manufacturers, and links to the reviews written about them at this website.

If you would like to suggest another company for review, please use the contact information listed in the “About Me” page listed above:

1. BioLet Composting Toilets
2. Clivus Multrum Composting Toilets
3. EcoTech Carousel Composting Toilets
4. Envirolet Composting Toilets
5. Homemade Composting Toilets
6. Nature’s Head Composting Toilets
7. Phoenix Composting Toilets
8. Sun-Mar Composting Toilets
   

For additional  information about composting toilets, including answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Composting Toilets, and articles about the basics of Composting Toilets, please return to the Toilet Composting Homepage.

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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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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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Local health officials in many regions may be extremely biased against any nontraditional waste disposal method.  Many cities don’t even allow rainwater catchment, so trying to convince them that humanure is a great idea is quite a challenge!  For this reason, most composting toilet owners in the United States do not even bother seeking permits, instead using them clandestinely in their homes.  Just like the “solar guerillas” who often illegally set up solar systems in their homes due to oppressive regulations, there appears to be a large composting toilet guerilla underground movement as well.

But there is encouraging changes happening as the number of users of composting toilets continues to grow.  In a recent New York Times article (dated July 6, 2009), reporter Kate Galbraith noted that many cities are now at least considering a policy that encourages (or accepts) composting toilets in residential homes.  She writes that, “Last month the city of Austin, Tex., approved its first composting toilet. Columbus, Ohio is adding some composting toilets to its parks [and] Officials in Dutchess County, N.Y., are studying the concept [of approving composting toilets].”

Galbraith also interviewed Jim Weaver of BioLet composting toilets, who noted that manufactured composting toilets is definitely a growth industry, with BioLet currently selling over 1,000 a units a year (and BioLet is a fairly small company compared to some other composting toilet manufacturers, including Sun-Mar and Envirolet).

There are also additional attempts to create national standardization and regulation criteria.   The National Sanitation International Foundation is now setting manufacturing standards and certifying composting toilets in the United States and abroad.

Still, the approval process is still not easy for most regions in the United States.  This is an area where more activism seems to be needed, and although the permiting process can be grueling (and often unsuccesful), silently installing a composting toilet does little to help on this front (although it does undoubtedly to a lot of good for the environment).   Activism and education seem to be the key to encouraging people to switch from the wasteful flush toilet method to the more environmentally sustainable practice of toilet composting.

For more information about composting toilet methods, composting toilet reviews, and information on how to build a homemade compost toilet, please return to the Toilet Composting Home Page.

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This ecovillage relied heavily on Joseph Jenkin’s humanure toilet composting system, sometimes referred to the “Five Gallon Bucket” composting toilet because, as the name implies, it involves using five gallon buckets to collect human waste (along with dry brown organic matter – we used sawdust from a local mill – and toilet paper).  This was a relatively new ecovillage when I joined it, and many members were strapped for cash as they were building their homes (out of strawbales, cob and other local, environmentally sustainable materials).

Jenkin’s composting toilets were cheap and easy to make (read more about how to build a composting toilet based on Jenkin’s design here).  So during the “pioneer phase” of this community’s development, humanure composting toilets were placed in various buildings and outhouses in the community and a rotational system was put in place whereby each member had a shift for emptying and cleaning the five gallon buckets into the humanure compost bins.  It is probably no surprise that this rotation was not very popular in the village.  Many members came up with often quite elaborate excuses to get out of the humanure rotation when their turn came up, and it was a source of considerable tension in the village.

Over the two years I spent living in this ecovillage, I had the personal “opportunity” to process the humanure on about twenty different occasions.   Missouri probably is not the best of climate situations in which to have such a toilet composting system (although the lack of building codes in the region was also what made it feasible in the ecovillage).  During the winter months the composting buckets (which were stored outdoors to limit odors indoors) would freeze and we would have to bring them inside to thaw out before it was possible to carry the dozen or more (often quite heavy) buckets to the composting bins located about a quarter mile away from where they were stored (there was a cart that could be used for this chore, but it was often broken, or difficult to use during the winter months when there was quite a bit of snow on the ground).  And during the hot summer months, the compost buckets became quite foul smelling and also very liquid in nature, so it was difficult to empty them into the bins without having quite a bit of fecal matter splashing onto your clothes and body.

Besides the physical strength needed to haul the buckets, the physical discomfort experienced when emptying and cleaning them, and the social tensions surrounding the humanure rotation system, there were other considerable health issues as well.  The five gallon buckets were stored in a single location as they were filled which was also near the main water cistern for the community.  The cistern, unsurprisingly, eventually became contaminated with E. Coli bacteria.   At community dinner time, I also often wondered if some of the flies that ended up in our kitchen might have visited the humanure composting heap earlier in the day as well.

All in all, you could say my experience with this system was not positive.  However, this does not mean I discount this toilet composting system entirely.  I believe many of the problems with the system at the ecovillage was due to poor decisions made by community members about where to store the buckets, how to deal with disposing of the waste, and so forth.  I also believe the community had long outgrown the usefulness of such a system, and should have invested the time and resources into developing an easier to use system that could deal with the growing population of the village in a sanitary method (I believe the community would have benefited greatly by investing in a manufactured composting toilet system using both self-contained and remote composting toilets in their facilities).

I do still believe Jenkin’s humanure composting toilet system has an important role to play in the toilet composting debate.  For single individuals (or very small family units) with little financial resources and a strong commitment to composting their waste, I believe the system may work quite well for them.  However, for larger family units and for individuals with disabilities, busy schedules, or a general desire to minimize their contact with unprocessed humanure waste, a manufactured composting toilet model should definitely be considered instead.

If you are interested in reading more articles about toilet composting systems, including micro-flush and vacuum composting toilets, and composting toilet reviews, please visit the Toilet Composting Homepage.

One of the authors, David Del Porto, has sold and and serviced thousands of composting toilets since 1972.  He has also help write industry performance and regulation standards, and designed composting toilets and graywater systems for Greenpeace facilities and for different developing countries.  He is one of the leading experts in his field and really knows the topic well.

In The Composting System B0ok you will find descriptions of over forty different composting toilet systems, including both manufactured and site-built composting toilets.  They discuss everything from what are the best toilet stools to go with your self-contained composting toilet to how to best install a micro-flush composting toilet in your home.  The book has extensive tips on how to choose, plan, and install your entire composting toilet system, including some information that the toilet manufacturers themselves will never tell you about how to maintain and install their composting toilets.  You will also find out how you can help reduce pollution and help protect yourself and your community against rising water and sewage costs in the future by choosing a composting toilet for your home.

The book also explains the manner in which new composting technology has improved so that composting toilets are now compatible with the most upscale bathrooms, while also providing extensive technical information about these systems (although it is about eight years old at this point and even more developments have been made in recent years).  In addition, The Composting Toilet System Book provides important information about United States permitting requirements for different states, as well as how these composting toilet systems can be best integrated with graywater systems.  If you are about to embark on the process of trying to get a permit for your composting toilet, you should definitely take a look at the information provided in this book.

You should be aware that the Composting Toilet System Book is not cheap, running around fifty dollars a copy.  But it is easily the best printed resource available for people installing and maintaining composting toilets in their homes, and is well worth the price.   The Composting Toilet System Book is available from many online retailers, and you can purchase it from Amazon.com here: The Composting Systems Book.

For more information about composting toilet systems, including additional reviews of composting toilet books, please return to Toilet Composting.

Q) What are Composting Toilets?

A) Like a compost pile or a compost bin, composting toilets use rapid aerobic decomposition to turn organic waste matter into a rich, compost that can be used as a soil amendment.  Most compost toilets use little or no water.  Instead, you “flush” using a dry medium like sawdust or peat moss, which helps keep the composting waste in balance.

There are two different types of composting toilet systems that are most-commonly used in houses: all-in-one  “self-contained” composting toilets, which are convenient for small spaces, and “remote” composting toilet systems, in which a large composting reactor is located away from the toilet (often in the basement of a house).  For more information, read the article “Types of Composting Toilet Systems.”

Q: Do composting toilets smell?

A:  If they are well-maintained, they should not smell at all.  Some models even have less arguably less odors than conventional toilets (vacuum-flush composting toilets).  If there is an odor, that means there is something very wrong with how the system is being maintained.  Modern day manufactured composting toilets bear absolutely no resemblance to outdoor outhouses.

Q: Why would anyone want to purchase one?

A:  There are many reasons people are interested in buying composting toilets.  For some, it may be because they are located in an area where septic and sewage systems are difficult or costly to build and maintain.  For many others, they choose composting toilets for environmental reasons (for more information, read “What are the Environmental Benefits of Composting Toilets “).

Q: Are Composting Toilets Expensive?

A: When you initially compare them in price to a regular flush toilet, composting toilets may seem a little costly.  But when you compare what the costs are over time, you will find that composting toilets are actually the better choice financially.  With a composting toilet you will save on water, sewage or septic fees, and also produce a valuable soil additive.  For more details, check out the article “How Much do Composting Toilets Cost?”

Q:  What is the end product of the toilet composting process like, and what do I do with it?

A:  After the composting process is finished, you will have a dry, fluffy odorless material that looks a little bit like soil.  It is safe to touch, and is a great fertilizing source for plants, shrubs and trees.  For more information about how to use the compost from composting toilets, read “What is Humanure and What Can I do with It?“  If you are concerned about the safety of composting toilets, you may also want to read “Are Composting Toilets Safe?”

Although these are some of the most common questions asked, if you have more questions answered, or want to read more articles and reviews of popular composting toilets models (including a Buyers Guide to Composting Toilets), please return to the Toilet Composting Homepage.

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]]> http://toilet-composting.com/top-five-questions-about-composting-toilets/feed/ 0 http://toilet-composting.com/homemade-and-manufactured-compost-toilets-compared/ http://toilet-composting.com/homemade-and-manufactured-compost-toilets-compared/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:09:25 +0000 M Day http://toilet-composting.com/?p=176 Continue reading]]> If you are looking for a compost toilet for your home, you can choose between two main options: either build a compost toilet on your own, or purchase a manufactured one.  There are important similarities and differences between these two different types of composting toilets, and advantages and disadvantages for each model.

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/toilet-composting-basics/ http://toilet-composting.com/toilet-composting-basics/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:32:49 +0000 M Day http://toilet-composting.com/?p=173 Continue reading]]> If you are considering purchasing a toilet composting system, it is likely you have many questions about how to choose, maintain and use your system.  Here are some of the most common questions people ask when researching, installing and using a toilet composting system:

What are composting toilets and how do they work?

Composting toilets are an important alternative to flush toilet systems.  Unlike the sewage or septic-based flush toilet system, composting toilets rely on little or no water in dealing with human waste.  Instead, composting toilets turn human waste into a valuable soil additive that can be used as a soil amendment.  Users will generally add organic brown matter to the toilet (such as sawdust or peat moss) instead of water.  Basic toilet composting systems rely on either a series of containers or a large centralized composting chamber.  For a full description, read What are Composting Toilets?

How are composting toilets good for the environment?

Toilet composting systems benefit the environment in multiple ways.  They can play a major role in preserving one of the world’s most important and rapidly diminishing resources: water.  They also produce a valuable end-product (compost) that can improve the environment and less reliance on chemical fertilizing products.   Composting toilets can also lessen the threat of groundwater contamination (from septic systems), environmental pollution (from broken sewage pipes), and help recycle all sorts of organic household waste.  For more information, read “What are the Environmental Benefits of Composting Toilets?”

How safe are composting toilets?

The short answer is completely safe, when used properly.  When not installed and used according to specifications, however, they may pose health risks – just as septic and sewage systems also pose considerable health risks when used or maintained improperly.  For a full discussion, read the entire article “Are Composting Toilets Safe?”

Where can I put in a composting toilet system?

Some people confuse composting toilets with outhouses or pit latrines, assuming they must be installed outdoors.  This simply is not true.  Most current toilet composting systems are built for indoor use (the exception being certain portable composting toilet models).  Most are meant for household use, but there are many other locations that composting toilets can be installed.  Increasingly government facilities, national parks and colleges are installing them both because of their benefit for the environment and society, but also to serve as demonstration projects for the public.  For more ideas about where toilet composting systems can be used, check out the article “Where Can Composting Toilets Be Used?”

What do toilet composting systems cost?

If you are actively searching for a toilet composting system, this is probably a major question you have when comparing it to other waste disposal systems.  Although composting toilets may initially seem much more expensive than a flush toilet system, there are many hidden costs in the latter, and some research will show that composting toilets are usually the best choice financially.  Not only do they costs considerably less than installing a septic system or paying sewage fees over time, but you will also save on water and be producing a valuable end product as well.  For complete information, read “How Much do Composting Toilets Cost?”

What can I put in a composting toilet?

Besides the obvious (human waste and toilet paper), you will find that your composting toilet is a wonderful way to recycle a wide variety of organic waste that your household produces.  Everything from kitchen scraps, shredded paper, coffee grounds and even yard waste can be put into your toilet composting system.  For a full discussion and many more examples of what can go into your composting toilet, read “What Can You Put In a Composting Toilet?”

How do I dispose of the end-product of the toilet composting process?

The end product of toilet composting is humus, or compost, and it is a valuable soil additive.   Some refer to this end-product also as “humanure” and you can use it to fertilize trees, bushes, flowers and more.  For a full discussion, read “What is Humanure and What Can I do With It?”

For more articles and information, you can return to the Toilet Composting homepage and search through the archives of dozens of useful articles about different aspects of building, purchasing, maintaining and using composting toilets.

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]]> http://toilet-composting.com/toilet-composting-basics/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/clivus-multrum-and-phoenix-composting-toilets/ http://toilet-composting.com/clivus-multrum-and-phoenix-composting-toilets/#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:42:16 +0000 M Day http://toilet-composting.com/?p=147 Continue reading]]> These week I am going to review two different composting toilet manufacturers with designs almost as unique as their names: Clivus Multrum and Phoenix.

Clivus Multrum Composting Toilet System.

“Clivus Multrum” refers to both a certain type of toilet composting system and the manufacturer of that system.  Clivus mean “incline” in Latin, while “Multrum” is a Swedish word meaning compost room, so Clivus Multrum literally means “inclining compost room.”

The first Clivus Multrum composting toilet system was built in 1939 in Sweden by Rikard Lindström, and this prototype was eventually patented in the 1960s.  The Clivus Multrum composting toilet system involves a large remote tank connected by a slope to a toilet.  The system requires a large accesible lower space beneath the toilet.

In the 1970s Abby Rockefeller founded Clivus Multrum Inc. in the United States under a license from Lindström.  With the current models using this system, a ventilation system will continously pull air down creating a completely odorless composting toilet system.   Their also now is an automatic moistening system that will help keep the compost at the right moisture level for composting, and an automatic process to remove excess liquid from the composter as well.

Currently Clivus Multrum is marketing their composting systems towards more industrial and governmental purposes than towards home consumers.   They have a special “Trailhead” design aimed for use by national and state park services and portable models for use at golf courses and remote recreation areas.  For more information, you can visit the Clivus Multrum website.

Phoenix Composting Toilet System

The Phoenix composting toilet system is manufactured by Advanced Composting Systems, LLC, based in Whitefish, Montana.  The company has been manufacturing composting toilets for over 27 years, and also creates prefabricated buildings.

The Phoenix composting toilet system was developed in the 1980s by Glenn Nelson, who prior to founding this company was a licensed manufacturer of Clivus Multrum toilets.  Nelson used his experience with the Clivus Multrum composting system to build the Phoenix models, although they are unique in design.

Nelson sought to improve a few problems he saw with the Clivus Multrum system in the Phoenix design.  One such issue was the slope of the composting tank found in the Clivus Multrum system, which caused concern about “fresher” composting materials possibly mixing with older materials awaiting harvest.  Another issue Nelson pointed to with the Clivus Multrum original designs was how liquid pooled at the bottom of the sloped tank, turning the process from aerobic decomposition into anerobic decomposition (for a discussion of the differences between these two forms, see “How Toilet Composting Works“).

Nelson created a toilet composting system which addressed both of these problems  (Clivus Multrum representatives argue they have now also addressed both these problems with their own redesigns of their system).  The Phoenix composting toilet is manufactured out of rotationally molded polyethylene, and unfortunately does not rely much on recycled plastic in its design.  There are residential models available, although they are quite expensive when compared to other composting toilets on the market (the cheapest and smallest residential model starts around $3500).  For more information visit the Phoenix Composting Toilet website.

For additional reviews of composting toilets, including the Sun-Mar, BioLet, Envirolet and EcoTech models, visit the Toilet Composting information website.

1) Composting toilets help conserve valuable water resources. Flush toilet systems waste enormous amounts of clean drinking water each year.  It is estimated that every day, Americans flush over 4.8 billion gallons of water down their toilets.

In order to keep the water flowing to these flush toilets, dams must be built, water piped hundreds of miles and then chemically treated, and then after all this expense and effort, 40% of the water will simply be flushed away.  The situation in developing nations, where clean water supplies are often quite limited, is even more dire.  For more information, read “What is Wrong with Flush Toilets.”

2)  Composting toilets are safer for the environment. If you have any question about the damage sewage systems do to our environment, just type the words “sewage spills” into Google and read some of the results. Septic systems are not much better, as contamination of ground water due to seepage from septic tank is a growing problem in many regions.

Composting toilets have little risk of causing any comparable type of environmental damage (in fact, the end product of the toilet composting process is actually good for the environment).  For more information, read “What are the Environmental Benefits of Composting Toilets?”

3) They are a good choice economically. When initially comparing a flush toilet to a compost toilet, the latter may seem much more expensive.  But you should be mindful of the many hidden costs associated with flush toilet systems.

For example, installing a composting toilet costs less than half of what it would cost to install a septic system on your property.  If you are connected to a sewage system, you will save on connection costs over the year.  With a composting toilet, you will also save enormously on annual water costs.  For more information, read “How Much do Composting Toilets Cost?”

4) They produce a valuable end product that is good for the environment. Whereas flush toilets produce a waste product that must be treated and disposed of, composting toilet produce a nutrient rich end-product that is a valuable soil additive.

Rather than posing an environment risk, the humus from composting toilets helps create an even greener environment around us.  For more information on how to use humus in your garden and yard, read “What is Humanure and What Can I Do With It?”

5) Most composting toilet models are easy to install and have less environmental impact than flush toilets. With a composting toilets you will not need heavy machinery to excavate a septic system or connections to a sewage system.  Self-contained models are especially easy to install, but even remote systems are quite easy to install with some professional help.  See “Types of Composting Systems” for more information.

For more information, including a discussion of some of the “Advantage and Disadvantages of Composting Toilets,” please visit the Toilet Composting Home Page where you will find dozens of useful articles on toilet composting systems.

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]]> http://toilet-composting.com/five-reasons-you-should-use-a-composting-toilet/feed/ 0 http://toilet-composting.com/what-is-humanure/ http://toilet-composting.com/what-is-humanure/#comments Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:04:54 +0000 M Day http://toilet-composting.com/?p=141 Continue reading]]> If you are exploring composting toilets or other forms of alternative waste systems, it is likely that you have already come across the term “humanure” being used, but not defined.

What is Humanure?

Humanure is a neologism (a newly coined word becoming more popular in common speech, but not fully accepted into mainstream language) that was coined and popularized by the writer Joseph Jenkins in a book he published in 1994 about composting toilets. Humanure is a contraction of “human” and “manure” and Jenkins uses the term to refer to the end-product of the toilet composting process.

Humanure does not refer to sewage or night soil (raw human waste often spread on crops in developing countries). Instead, it is fully composted human waste (along with additional carbon materials such as sawdust).  Humanure is  a extremely nutrient rich organic matter that is safe to touch and with no unpleasant odor.  In fact, it will resemble exactly the compost you produce from household and garden composting bins.

What Can I do with It?

Joseph Jenkins is a strong advocate of  using humanure as a soil amendment for both agricultural and non-agricultural uses.  You may not be aware of this, but human fecal matter and urine are both very high in important nutrients for soil health: nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous.  Humanure has the same level of nutrients as is found in many synthetic fertilizers and in animal manures that you may purchase in garden stores.  Jenkins and other argue that humanure is an important human resource (and product) that can help diminish our reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and promote safe, organic agricultural output.

However, there is some quite some debate about whether humanure should be used on agricultural crops.  Humanure certainly does not have the health risks associated with night soil, and Jenkins and others have argued that it is completely safe to use on agricultural crops.  It is probably true that fully composted humanure is safe for agricultural purposes, and that the reluctance to use it this way in developing countries probably has more to do with aesthetics (what we might call the “grossed-out” factor) than with health and safety issues.

However, there is a valid concern raised by many health and agricultural specialists about whether users are fully composting their humanure.  Those who argue we should err on the side of caution point out that it can take two years or more for certain pathogens to be destroyed, and that users may not be waiting long enough to ensure the compost is completely safe.

But even if humanure is not used on agricultural crops, there are still many important uses for it as a soil amendment.  If you are producing humanure from your own composting toilet, you can use it on your flower beds, around trees (including fruiting trees, since there will be no risk to the fruit from humanure on the ground), on your lawns, for houseplants and almost any other area where you would like nutrient rich soil.

If you have more questions about composting toilets and are interested in reading more articles about their environmental, economical and social benefits, please return to the Toilet Composting home page.

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