Excrement Happens - Composting Toilets

How many of you are turning up your noses having just read the title of this post? A couple of years ago I'd have done the same, but since then I've used two fantastic composting toilets and I'm a convert.  The experience was not disgusting, I did not see other peoples poo, there were no coma inducing odours and no flies issued forth from the lifted seat to attack my nether regions. It was all very civilised indeed if you don't mind and thankfully none of my preconceived fears materialised.  Common sense research has added one or two simple factors into the equation to make this a perfectly pleasant experience! In fact I've shifted my opinion from 'no feckin way' to 'actually, I want one of my own'.

Excrement happens, but why contaminate 7 to 15L of water with every flush and then use huge amounts of energy and money to clean up the mess, often performed inefficiently causing ground water and soil contamination? If there was a safe healthy alternative that provided biomass for basket and fence making, fuel for your stove and fertiliser for your plants wouldn't you want to know more? Read on ...

The composting toilet is not an old fashioned hole in the ground latrine, which did result in terrifically bad smells and were not altogether pleasant to put it mildly. A composting toilet avoids the smell by ensuring the decomposition process is performed aerobically (air present for sweet microbes) rather than anaerobically (without air=stink to high heaven). Also some bulking agents are added in the form of sawdust or shredded paper which corrects the nutrient balance and again ensures conditions are ideal for aerobic as opposed to anaerobic digestion. Its not rocket science. So simple, yet very effective.

Let me describe both of the compost toilet options that I was privy to test run. The first was a commercially available toilet by Separett. On first approach it looks exactly like a conventional toilet. It's made from all the materials you would expect a toilet to be made of which does tend to put one at ease. Lifting the lid things initially look complicated ... where do I wee, do I have to get a poo onto that ledge, what if I do it in the wrong place ... a quick tutorial from the proud owner and I soldiered on in the name of sustainable living. A flap covers the contents and only opens when weight is placed on the toilet seat, along with a fan, so theres no 'view' or odour to contend with. This toilet cost €1000 and the owners have been very happy with its performance since they installed it two years ago. 'We didn't want all the bother that goes with installing a septic tank, along with the usual capers of regularly unblocking drains. Septic tanks just don't seem to work in Leitrim. Our toilet needs emptying once a month, then the composted contents are used as fertiliser around the trees and fruit garden'.

The other compost toilet I used was totally home made. On approach it looked quite appealing as it was all made with wood and decorated nicely with eco paint. It felt very 'clean'. There was a lovely smell of pine, not a toilet cleaner overpowering synthetic pine smell, but a natural one. Opening the lid met with no nasty surprises, and revealed the source of the lovely odour as each visitor scatters a small scoop of sawdust to cover any solids. This immediately neutralises any potential odours. The lidded pot needs emptying a couple of times a week. Total Cost €30. When I asked the owner why he chose to use a composting toilet he said 'Speed and simplicity, and wanting to save those good nutrients - plus not wanting to pollute the ground by using a 'normal' system.' It's more eco-friendly than todays septic/sewage treatments? 'No question about it.'

Composting Toilet at Dial House, UK

For those sunny days when we are outdoors a lot, and if your land has plenty of privacy then you might also consider a garden based treebog. This design does not require emptying so the compost is not harvested for use, well at least not directly. Again aeration is the key factor to excluding odour. The other ingredient is the use of nutrient rich plant species to harness the compost. The toilet is placed over a one metre squared space, walled with double chicken wire which is then filled with hay. This provides a visual barrier to the contents but allows aeration. Willow is planted closely around the toilet boundary and then a band of deep rooting comfrey. The nutrient hungry willow can be harvested yearly to provide poles for gardening and basket making, or harvested every few years instead when large enough to burn on in a stove. The comfrey leaves can be harvested annually to make liquid fertiliser for your vegetable garden.

Planning legislation in Ireland in not yet proactive in this area yet. However I did find the planning departments of other countries who provide publications on how to build one or where to buy one, and plenty of information on the web from various users.

The Humanure Handbook is the place to start if you are interested. Try your local library, request it on Freecycle, buy it from your local bookshop or lastly, order it from our Sallygardens Bookshop  by Amazon.

Do you think you could use one?

Comments

[Colin Joss]

I've read once there is a habit in some of Asia region where they would install their toilet on top of fish pond to make the fish big and healthy. Although it is environmentally friendly as these kind of actions can also be considered as recycling, the idea is quite extreme for me :)

Colin Joss
East Lothian, Haddington, United Kingdom

[Jess]

I've heard that composting toilets are super great these days...but I hadn't really made the connection between adding the carbon (sawdust) and the lack of stink. In my worm bin, one of the keys to keeping things stink-free is to add paper or cardboard if things do start to smell. The extra carbon, for whatever reason, gets rid of all the nastiness. Kind of nifty that the same concept applies here!

I have some (american) friends who wanted to put one in their new house. Unfortunately the town they are in doesn't allow them so their contractor won't do it for them...but he said he'd leave the right size spot for it (wink wink) because he thought the regulations against them were just ridiculous.

[Wibit (Brie)]

I know I could do it! It actually sounds a lot more natural than flushing your pooh through thouands of meters of drains. Much more immediate and friendlier some how!

[Wild Rose]

It is definitely an environmentally friendly approach to waste ~ we just have to overcome our phobias, or those memories of caravan holidays with outdoor toilets and no plumbing! The odour from them was unbeliveable.

I recently read about a sailor who installed one on his boat and he assured the readers that there was absolutely no odour.

Marie

[Maddy]

I am guessing that you are at a point similar to that of a new vegetarian who has to give up bacon ... give up the easy and unseen flush compared to the do-it-yourself composting version. I'm not there yet but I applaud you for making such a huge change. It only takes a few people to get the ball rolling and the next thing it will be far more acceptable and widespread.

[Lizz]

We love them and use them in various places around our area. We are pondering the idea of putting one in our school bus that we are converting.

[warpgirl]

Lots of national parks in Australia have composting toilets of one sort or another, including ones that use tiger worms to speed up the composting process. Just like a worm farm, really, only with a loo attached to the top and not such a varied diet for the little critters. Apparently they are happy!

We used to live in a town in country New South Wales where there was no water supply - everyone relied on rainwater collected off their roof - and quite a few people there had composting loos because the standard variety just use too much water. Also here in Australia, where there have been water restrictions in place in many areas (the ones that aren't flooding now), there is quite a movement (sorry) for not flushing every time. The principle is: if it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down.

[R. Jeff Donohue]

Sally, it was most interesting to read about your composting toilets.
Micro-Bac International produces all natural bacterial solutions to totally degrade human or animal waste, generating only water and carbon dioxide as by products. I use Mega-Bac in my own septic system. As a result, I haven't had to pump out my septic tank in years.We also have a product to generate more methane in an anaerobic digester.
p.s. My grandparents came from counties Mayo and Cork. McCarthy/Donohue
Warmest Regards, Jeff Donohue

[Jean]

Well, I could do it but I'm not sure hubbie and three sons could cope! Mind you in France most men pee standing by the roadside anyway!

[carolyn]

A couple of years ago there was a TV show here in the UK, "It's not easy being green" and they built a composting loo, lots of info on the angle of peeing etc and strangely entertaining. These guys did however build their's in a garden shed complete with huge window - a step too far I think. I mean imagine sitting there watching the world go by and your next door nieghbour wanders past....

[kathyann]

I remember my friends aunty having a composting toilet back in the 60's and one of my uncles had one at the farm to save them having to go through the farmhouse every time they needed the loo!There was a bin which contained the sawdust and toilet roll hung up on string!I don't remember it smelling at all!kathyann and the girls

[Rebecca (author of Sallygardens)]

We have started clearing a space in the trees put our treebog. I'll let you know when its complete and will post some images. It won't have a large window!

[Tom Atkins]

Your good experiences with compost loos mirrors my experience in New Zealand - some beautifully designed and smell free places.

We just got planning for a new build in Co. Cork with no septic tank - just a compost toilet (twin vault - home made) and a willow bed for grey water. The planners didn't even question it - I think there are three or four such houses now in Co. Cork. We have a large pond 'down' from our house - so a great incentive not to send any pollution that way! I've saved some cedar from the cladding to use inside the toilet as it has a wonderful smell. There will be a small low volt fan running to remove any smells from the vaults. I am determined to make it 'mother-in-law friendly'!

An excellent book with detailed designs for home built systems is the Centre for Alternative Technology's "Lifting the Lid - an ecological approach to toilet systems'", by Louise Halestrap and Peter Harper.

[cliodhna]

hi, I have used a few of these and whenever I get my own home it is the first thing that will get installled. Have to convince/bully the boyfriend though!
Best compost toilet I ever saw? (reminded me in post above with big window)On a buddist site in spain on the top of a mountain looking out over this incredible view.. no door.. just sit and contemplate the universe.. amazing..

[derek banim]

Hi sally garden ,
I have come asross 5 compost loos in the last couple of years and thought they were a great idea.So when I moved to my new house in ireland I made one and have been using it for almost two years now.My mother and girlfriend seem to have a problem with it ,they think I have lost the plot.I will be showing them your blog as they do not believe me when I try to explain the advantages of the system .
ps it doesn't smell

[Eloise O'Hare]

I am all for composting toilets as sending our mixed toilet waste out to sea seems like cruilty to fish life. My friend in Australia built one, which had a six bin wedgey turntable underneath so when a bin was filled you turned it, by the six one, he went to empty it and there was less then a dustpan of dust, which he then put in normal compost to give it a secound go. My friend built the toilet with a window with a view of the ocean, I loved using it. He also recomended people using anti-biotics and other chemical drugs not to use it, as it would mess up the eco system.

[Belén (Kin55)]

¡Saludos llenos de sol desde Orgiva Sally!
Tomorrow I will receive my first bucket full of red worms(Eisenia Foetida)and our dry compost toilet consist in a big plastic drum with its tube going up for let fumes go, and the hole for the "let go", Do you think that is a good house for the red worms?(the drum it is half full already of a mix of our excrements plus leaves, sawdust, etc...)
Is anybody able to tell me if I need to do some change to the drum, or just like that will work well? I´ve heard that liquids need to go out by some kind of drenage holes...well, maybe somebody can xplain or guide me to a good web-page-book where I can see a home made compost toilet with red worms for take some xample...will be GREAT!!
This is an emergency!!
Salud y amor

Belén (Orgiva-Granada-Andalucía)

[Belén (Kin55)]

thanks, I´m now in the Sally FORUM, I hope somebody can answer to my RED WORMS for compost toilet dilema...;)
¡Saludos desde el sur!

Belén kin55

[Rebecca (author of Sallygardens)]

Hi Belen

Welcome .. come join in at the forum and we will do our best to answer your worm question ... http://sallygardens.freeforums.org

[blados]

hi ..........i live in andalucia, and want to source tiger worms asap as i have just acquired use of a small patch of land to garden , hence need to make compost..i see someone from orgiva posting here belen kin55... could we please somehow get in touch

[Danny McCarthy]

I have a sun-mar Excel ac/dc composting toilet for sale as I have changed to a low flush system. It's in excellent condition as it was only used in a holiday cottage.Contact number 00353-1-6285276

[Rådgivende ingeniør]

Nice work on your composting toilet and its look nice and comfortable too. Thank you for sharing it. Keep up the good work.