How to Use a Composting Toilet
There are many reasons that people are turning to composting toilets. They are low-maintenance, easy on the environment, can be used without a septic tank and are free of odor.Most composting toilets are in places where conventional pipes might freeze in the winter: little-used cabins, isolated camps and places where septic drainage is impossible. Since more and more of these are popping up, you may find yourself at one of these locations. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Easily biodegradable toilet paper
- Sanitizing hand wipe or towelettes
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Instructions
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Use the toilet as you would a normal toilet. If it is an electric model, you'll hear a fan running. That's because many composting toilets use an electric fan to evaporate the liquids. The vapors are vented out through another pipe. With the non-electric model, liquids are evaporated by natural convection, with excess liquids draining through an auxiliary drain tube. Either way, you won't smell anything.
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Be sparing with the toilet paper. If you are at an out-of-the way cabin and bringing in your own toilet paper, try a test in advance. Put a few sheets in a bowl of water and see how fast they dissolve. The faster the paper disintegrates, the better it will be for the composting toilet at your destination.
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Ask your host about how he or she prefers adding the "starter mulch." Most composting toilets use a mixture of peat moss and wood shavings. The amount added depends on the number of people using the toilet. You can either add 1/2 cup after each use or 1 quart per person per week for quick, odorless composting.
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After two months of use, the compost needs to be emptied. It will be packaged, odor-free, without harmful bacteria and ready to use just as you would use any other compost.
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Most composting toilets are in places without running water, so be sure to have hand sanitizer and towels so that you can wash your hands after each use.
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Tips & Warnings
If you know you'll be staying in a cabin with a composting toilet, be sure to ask about proper maintenance specific to the particular kind.
Because the bowl is steeper than those designed to catch water, composting toilets usually do not get dirty. If there is any soiling, clean with any household cleaner.
Do not use the toilet for disposing of anything but human waste.
