How Does A Composting Toilet Work?

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2 How Does A Composting Toilet Work? 1

3 How Composting Toilets Work Most composting toilets are used where there's a limited supply of water or no water supply at all. Many people will use a composting toilet when they want to conserve water use. These systems are often used by people that want to be environmentally friendly and don't want to waste valuable water resources. If you have any other source of water with your composting toilet such as shower water or sink water, this will still require treatment. Before you buy your toilet, it's important that you understand the maximum use that you're going to be using the toilet for. You may only need one for a few days of use like at a personal cabin, or you may need to be using one all of the time. Some toilets are designed to only be used on a part-time basis as they're not capable of full-term use. For many people, a composting toilet is a perfect option if you want to live off the grid, have a cabin, Boat, RV, or live in a tiny house. If you live in a place where hooking up to a septic system is not cost effective for the best option,a composting toilet is your ideal choice. These composting toilets allow you to deal with human waste without having to rely on an expensive septic system or the need to be hooked up to the city sewer system. 2

4 What is a Composting Toilet? If you have a tiny house, cabin, boat or other outdoor areas, you might consider getting a composting toilet. This type of toilet system is a self-contained toilet unit. It's not connected to a sewer system or to a septic system. It will break down and then dehydrate human waste into a compost form which you can add to the soil. The toilet consists the place for you to sit down and looks much like any other toilet that you've used before. Inside this toilet is a composting chamber and this breaks down the sewage and then sanitize is it. There's a tray or a drying chamber that allows the moisture to escape and this reduces the overall sewage volume that the toilet produces. There are many different models and some of them will use some water or no water at all. There are some models with your power vented, and some that are heated as well as models that don't run on electricity. Other models might have an electromechanical mixer, and this will mix the waste product into a mulch and this speeds up and improve the overall composting process of the toilet. When these toilets are properly installed and designed well, they are vented so that you don't get odors coming from the toilet. In most cases, you will need to take time periodically to clean the toilet components and you also have to empty the compost that this toilet produces. You can use this toilet same way that you use a regular toilet and many composting toilets look similar to the water-based toilets that we normally use. You'll get the same level of comfort from sitting on this type of toilet as it has the overall same shape. For the composting process to begin, the waste product produced will be mixed with a starter mulch. You'll usually empty the composted waste produced from this toilet at between one to two months time. Some models won't have to be emptied until 12 months have passed. The amount of maintenance and the overall time before you have to empty the toilet is all going to depend on the model you get and the toilet design. To clean the toilet, you need a regular toilet brush and a normal household cleaner. It's important to keep your toilet as clean as possible to ensure that all the parts are functioning well and that there's no buildup of residue or debris. You 3

5 want to refer to the individual model that you own to determine the exact cleaning method for your composting toilet system. Main Functions There are three main functions of your composting toilet that it needs to go through to process any human waste in a safe and quick manner. The first thing he needs to do is to evaporate the moisture which is created by your natural body processes. In most cases around 90% of the waste material is water and this will evaporate quickly. Some units will feature a urinal system which is waterless, and this allows most of the liquid to skip the main composting chamber and evaporate quickly or this can be removed by a manual method when the system is full. The toilet also has a vent system which allows any evaporated liquid to get out into the air. some of the modern systems will have a heating element and this will aid the evaporation process and help speed up the toilet. Well, you want most of the liquid waste to be evaporated you don't want the compost to dry out completely. You want to have a healthy and active compost pile and this needs to be the moist just not too wet as this helps the waste produced break down faster. If the waist was left on its own, it would break down eventually, but this process would take a long time and there would be foul odors produced which would make your home or any other place where you have your composting toilet smell like a regular outhouse. when you have a compost, you need to add material like sawdust, peat mix or another additive. Additives that you put into the compost posting toilet are referred to as the bulking material. this material helps break down the waste that remains quickly. This material also helps ensure that the product contained within the composting toilet is safe for you to handle. The bulking material allows for proper aeration in the compost pile. This allows oxygen into the composting pile and it assists the bacteria which break down the solid waste product. 4

6 Some individuals that own a composting toilet often add coffee grounds to the system because this works as a great bulking agent and produces a pleasant smell in the composting toilet. The main function of these systems is to create the right environment which promotes an efficient, quick, an easy breakdown of any organic waste produced when you use this toilet system. The modern composting toilets produce compost that is easy and safe for you to handle. once the entire toilet system is full, you'll have to empty it. Some people think that this would be a nasty business, but it's a lot easier to empty a composting toilet then it would be to empty another type of toilet system. Dealing with Waste Not everyone likes the idea that they would be handling human waste and they might even get a bit squeamish about this. The best part about this composting toilet system is your just handling a nutrient-rich soil in a safe manner much like some garden compost. There's no sign or even smell that you're actually handling human waste. One thing you'll have to do is to buy a system that is the right size for your individual needs. This will ensure that you won't have to empty the system as much as other systems. For example, some of these advanced systems don't have to be emptied for 12 months so this gives you plenty of time where you don't have to worry about emptying your toilet. Different manufacturers approached composting toilets in several ways which we are going to address. The system created by companies like Sun Mar makes use of a bio-drum which separates two liquids from the solids and this helps to mix the Vulcan Material into the waste. There's a 3-chamber system when you buy the Sun-Mar brand. this allows the compost that is created to be removed from a drawer and the compost that is not finished will stay in the bio-drum and then this is broken down further. The toilet systems produced by companies like Nature's Head will use a type of liquid separation before there's any mixing with the compost. The liquids that are produced or drained into a urine bottle which is front mounted on the unit and this is then emptied when it's full. The solid waste that is produced is deposited 5

7 into a composting chamber and then this is mixed with the bulking material. during each use and mixing handle is turned and this mixes the bulking material. One of the most convenient waterless composting toilet systems are produced by BioLet, which create a great alternative to the traditional type of regular style flush toilets. BioLet 30NE Waterless Separating Toilet works where it drains off any excess liquids to an auxiliary container, French drain or leach field. 6

8 The Basic Composting Toilet Design The modern composting toilet will use a chamber design. Some of them have three chambers and each of the functions takes place in its own separate chamber. Some units will only have two chambers, while other units have one chamber. In the basic design, the waist will enter the toilet into a chamber that does the composting. In the multi-chambered designs, they will diverge the urine produced into a chamber which evaporates the urine. The waste produced is mixed with the bulking material and these additives are placed into the toilet as a regular composting bin composting mixture in the chamber, it needs to be mixed periodically. When mixing is done more oxygen goes into the chamber and this helps break down the waste product in a more efficient manner. The oxygen that is let into the chamber helps the bacteria that is in the chamber break down the waste into the compost. With the multi-chamber units, the excess moisture that is produced from the chamber that is doing the composting is diverted into a chamber that does the evaporation through a screen system. When a single chamber design is used the waste is typically sent to another location at to dry out. Most of the multi-chamber composting toilets have a chamber for finishing or there's a finishing drawer and the compost will complete the process of drying and breaking down in this part of the system. This prevents the compost that is going 7

9 through the breakdown process not to be contaminated with any fresh waste that is coming into the composting toilet system. Once the composting toilet has gone through the process of breaking down the waste material to dry,the compost that is produced can be removed from the chamber and then used as you require it. These toilet systems make it easier to live off the grid because you avoid wasting your water resources and the waste that you produce can be easily broken down and safely stored. If you don't have a proper waste management system if you live in a cabin, on a boat, or another location you face serious diseases like hepatitis A or dysentery or other health risks. A note ho system is usually poorly maintained, and you are exposed to bacteria such as salmonella or E coli, so a composting toilet is an ideal solution and there's no smell associated with a composting toilet like you get with a regular out hose system. The compost that is produced by the composting toilet is actually usable and you can use it in your garden, for example, so you're making use out of your human waste. There are several different types of composting toilets that you need to be aware of the two main types are the split system toilet in the self-contained toilet which we're going to address here in the next section. Types of Composting Toilets There are many different toilet sizes and add-ons you can have when you buy your composting toilet, but there's basically two main categories of composting toilet which is called a split system and the other one is called the self-contained system, or it's also referred to as the all-in-one system. Here's a little bit more about the basic types. Split Systems When you have a split system composting toilet, this means that the system is split into two different sections. One of the sections is called the pedestal and this is above the floor and then the tank system which is the second part of the 8

10 unit which is below the floor. the pedestal part of the unit is the seat where you sit down to go to the bathroom and then the tank system is where all the waste produced is stored where it then goes through various composting processes. These toilets are perfect for outhouses, homes, clubhouse areas, parks, sporting clubs, or any other structure that has accessible space under the main floor area. A split system has a large capacity and they are perfect to be installed in areas where people are going to be using the bathroom frequently. Self Contained Systems The self-contained system is an all-in-one solution. Both the pedestal and the container are built into one system. These are perfect systems for a home where there's not a lot of space or there's no area downstairs for the tank to go. This sort of system is great for a small home for example, or even a tiny home. Many individuals are now using self-contained composting toilets in small living spaces like motorhomes, RVs, Caravans, boats, and single-level structures. if you don't have a lot of space for your toilet system, the self-contained system is ideal. Both the self-contained in the split system is categorized into batch systems and continuous systems. When there's a continuous system the waste product will go in one end of the system and then the waste compost material will come out of the other end of the system. When a batch system is used, the compost chambers are filled up and then they are changed for an empty chamber, so this means that the composting is done in a batch process. How the Split System Toilet Works A composting toilet works by a very simple process, but the entire process is a bit technical for some people to understand. This sort of toilet system is easy to set up and it's quite easy to install. The composting process will introduce different elements such as bacteria, organisms, elements, and various fungi which work in a harmonious basis to reduce the rich waste product which looks like topsoil and has almost the same chemical makeup as topsoil. the pedestal 9

11 component of the system works pretty much the same way that is standard flush type toilet system works without the actual flushing process. There's an initial chamber in the system where most of the waste produced is caught. There's a drain system for any excess liquid so it can escape. If there was a composting pile that had a lot of liquid in it this would begin to smell quite quickly, and the helpful mold and important bacteria would be killed off and the breakdown of the waste would not be able to occur. There's a fan in the event that helps the evaporation process of the liquid and it keeps the composting pile at the proper temperature. There's a secondary chamber and this holds the finished waste product. a composting toilet will produce a product of this much like topsoil and it's almost indistinguishable from the actual topsoil. Batch Composting Toilet The batch composting toilet is a nice system because it has everything required in one system. This sort of toilet system looks almost exactly like a regular toilet and most people won't even realize that they are using a composting toilet system. The chambers in this sort of system are smaller when compared to the split system and many of the self-contained toilets come with one or more chambers. These chambers can be switched when one of them becomes full. You can also purchase additional chambers so they can be switched quite frequently if the toilet is going to be used by many individuals over a short period of time. Here s a small guide to determine the type of composting toilet you should buy. It's easy to narrow down your range of solutions with this handy guide. It's important to get the right toilet system for your needs and the structure where you're going to have the composting toilet. 10

12 Various Waterless Composting Toilet Solutions BioLet 15 Composting Toilet Meet the original, the BioLet BIO15 Waterless Composting Toilet, the premier solution for the modern compost toilet. This elegant, yet environmentally sound and with a simple design compliments all bathroom styles and includes the latest technology combined with the natural, eco friendly, decomposition process. 11

13 Features of Composting Toilets There are several features of composting toilets that you need to know about. The smaller units which don't have an aerator or heater are more prone to nitrification of the waste, insect infestation, and accumulation of liquid. for this reason, these smaller units need more maintenance then the units that have aheater, aerator fan, and a regular compost bin. Bowl Closures These toilets have a bowl closure and a toilet trap this is, so you don't have to look at the sewage that is in the composting toilet. this is for sanitation purposes and to control the odor. all of these toilets can close off the bottom of the toilet bowl from the composting receptacle or the waistline. some of these toilets we'll have a closing mechanism that is automatic, and this will appeal to individuals who don't want to fiddle with unfamiliar controls on their composting toilet. Are the toilets have a manual valve which will close the bottom of the toilet bowl. one thing to note is that for toilets which have the sort of a manual valve, it 12

14 means that male individuals that use the sort of toilet that is used to standing up to urinate, we'll have to sit down to urinate. Composting toilets have a bowl closing design which can look great, but this tends to be quite flimsy, so you might want to avoid toilets that have this feature. Sewage Treatment The breakdown of a sewage in your composting toilet will involve the use of microorganisms, mold, bacteria, and the liquid within the toilet will be evaporated via moisture. Some toilet manufacturers May recommend that you use a certain mulching product to aid the breakdown of material within your composting toilet or to provide aid for odor control in your toilet. You should know what types of composting materials your toiler will require before you buy The interior of a batch system composting toilet may have several changes out composting compartments. When this sort of compartment is filled with the waste material it is then sealed and take a note and this permits the breakdown of the sewage to continue. Once the composting process has finished then the container is emptied and applied to regular soil and then the container is put back into the toilet. You may want one with this feature. In a continuous composting toilet which is non-batch, the waste material continuously flows into one single container. this compost in procedure reduces waste volume and then after. Of around 6 to 12 months this is removed from the container and at this point, it is fully composted and can be applied to regular soil. Installation Needs It's important to look at the installation requirements for any composting toilet that you consider buying. Some models have to be installed over a composting 13

15 reservoir while other models don't have to be. Some of the models have a large reservoir that is below your toilet system while others are self-contained and smaller. You have to make note of the toilet space you have if you have a compost in the tank, for example as this takes up more space. It's important to measure everything or talk to a representative to understand your individual needs when it comes to buying a composting toilet. You may need one that has a smaller size if you have less room, so this feature may be ideal for you. Climate You also have to make a note of the climate are in. In some cases where it is quite cold, there can be freeze damage which occurs to the composter of your composting toilet. In this case, the composter will need to be protected from the elements and this may increase the installation costs of your composting toilet. The area where you install the toilet needs to be safe, easy to get to, and comfortable as you need to empty, clean, and maintain your toilet so you have to make note of where you install the toilet. the size of your toilet system is going to be one of the critical features that you need to look at. Heating and anti-freezing features might be ideal for you in you live in colder climates. In the room where the toilet is located the temperature usually has to be above 64 degrees F, when you're not using the system. Some models do permit the temperature to drop when the toilet is not being used. When there is a low temperature, the composting usually does not proceed properly. You also need to make note of various models because some of them don't work in any freezing conditions or they can become damaged in a cold condition. These units may require a heat source, so you have to buy the right toilet for the temperature. Electricity or Not Some of these composting toilets will require 120-volt electricity, but not all toilets require this. There are some models that will run without the need for 14

16 electricity or ones that made me run on 12 volts, 240 volts, or be powered by solar. you may need electricity to operate a composting mulcher, vent fan, freeze protection heater, or a liquid pump. it's important to understand what sorts of power you're going to need with your composting toilet before you buy one. Regulations and Type of Compost to Use It's also important to note that you may have to follow guidelines and bylaws with the area you're in when it comes to disposing of the composted material. You need to follow your regular codes when it comes to disposing of the material so check with this with your local officials before you start using the composting material that's been created in your toilet system. Cleaning When you clean your toilet, the system does not use bleach like you might use in a regular toilet system. The bleach is going to damage the organisms that are doing the composting and the entire composting process might be stopped. You should also avoid abrasive cleaners as many toilets are made with fiberglass or plastic parts. You should speak to your composting toilet representative to determine the exact cleaning agents you should use with the model you have bought.when you have a composting toilet, you can use ordinary toilet tissue. To avoid clogging of the composter of your toilet, you want to avoid using an excessive tissue. This can also become clogged if you use the wrong bulking agent. it's important to understand what bulking agent you should be using with your composting toilet. Benefits of Composting Toilets There are many benefits to composting toilets and one of the most important benefits is the environmental benefits that these toilets provide for you. 15

17 Protect Groundwater The conventional system that treats water uses both a septic system and a sewer system and mixes the human waste with water. the sewer system will transport the raw sewage into bays, oceans, rivers, and the septic system into the groundwater indirectly. in rivers, oceans, and Bays the sewage will cause a proliferation of various aquatic plant life. As this plant life decays and dies off, it removes oxygen from the water and then the habitat dies. If you want to protect the groundwater, it makes sense to use a composting toilet. There's no polluted and contaminated water that is released into our precious water supply. These systems are the perfect solution if you have a concern about our water supply and you want to protect this valuable resource from further contamination by sewage. Save Some Money Because You Use Less Electricity and Water Since many composting toilets don't require the use of electricity or water, you're going to be saving a lot of money. Many composting toilets use no water at all whereas a conventional flush toilet might consume over 60,000 liters of water each day. In many municipalities, you have to pay for your water consumption and when you use a composting toilet, you're going to save a lot of money on not only your water bill but your electricity bill. Helps Recycle Nutrients For many centuries, we used to recycle human waste into fertilizer. In the second half of the 20th century, we abandoned this principle in favor of our modern septic systems. A regular composting toilet uses bacteria that breaks down our human waste into elements like carbon dioxide and water. these are just solved in the atmosphere and the residual moisture is evaporated. The waste that remains is reduced in volume by up to 90%. It's aesthetically, biologically, and chemically similar to regular topsoil. You can then collect this material and use it as regular topsoil, so you don't have to buy topsoil for your 16

18 garden, plants and other things that you grow around your home as you can use the topsoil created by your composting toilet so you're recycling valuable nutrients. Easy System to Install When you install a regular toilet, you have to hook it up to the existing pipe system or you may have to install a new piping system. In the composting toilet system, this is a self-contained unit and you don't have to hook it up to existing pipe systems. These composting toilets can get quite elaborate and they do need to be installed in the home, they can use it just be put into a room and are functional right away. Many composting toilets are very simple devices and the installation does not take a whole lot of time when you compare it with installing and hooking up a regular toilet system. Inexpensive These toilet systems are inexpensive when you compare them to other systems. You don't need to connect it to a septic system and you won't have to hire anyone to install it because it's very easy to do. there's not a lot of additional parts you have to buy to install the system and it saves you money over time because you're not using water. Compost for Free This system also gives you a free compost. You're turning your waste product into regular fertilizer that you can use with your garden. If you have something such as a methane generator, you could use this gas for heating or cooking purposes. a composting toilet is a perfect environmentally-friendly solution for your home, cabin, RV, or other small areas where you need a toilet system but doesn't want to be hooked up to any sort of septic system. No Odor 17

19 Most other toilet systems create a lot of odor. these systems do not create a lot of odor. If you use an outhouse, for example, there's a lot of odor created by the system. You won't have to worry about unpleasant smells when you use the composting toilet. You can use this sort of toilet system in any situation and you don't need any Plumbing experience to install the system. FAQ: Choosing Your Composting Toilet Where Will the Toilet System Be Used? You need to figure out where your toilet is going to be used to determine the best model to meet your needs. You should talk to a representative about the various models, so you can determine the best one for where you're going to be using the toilet. You have to think if the toilets going to be used on a full-time basis, part-time basis, at any other time. Some toilets are not able to handle a lot of use while other ones are perfectly capable of doing this. How Is It Operated? The operation of the toilet is going to depend on the person using the toilet. you can go with a semi-automatic model, manually operated toilets, or ones that are fully automatic. Some composting toilets are going to require more attention, cleaning, and removal of the waste material. Do I need Electricity? Another question you must ask is if you're going to require electricity. Some composting toilets will need electricity to be present where the toilet is located. Some toilets use ventilating fans or may need to be secure from issues with freezing. You can talk to the representative to determine your exact needs and they can find the best suitable solution for you. 18

20 What Space Do I Need? Many people choose composting toilets because they have limited space. You must find a toilet is going to fit in the space that you have available for the system. These systems still need a little bit of room because you're going to be cleaning them, emptying the components, and otherwise looking after the system. It can't be in too cramped of an area or you won't be able to maintain it effectively. Make note of the space or the toilet is going to be installed so you can pick the best model to suit your space needs. How Do I Maintain and Clean the System? You should also understand how you're going to have to maintain and clean your new toilet system. Some toilets need to be emptied only periodically while other ones need to be emptied quite frequently. How the toilet is to be cleaned and emptied, will be determined by the model that you buy. What Composting Materials Can I Use? It's also important to understand the various composting materials that you may be used in the toilet. The most common materials are peat moss, sawdust, or materials that are specifically prepared for use in the toilet model. Some people may decide to use wood chips, but this usually isn't a good idea and they can break the toilet or clog it on many models. What Features? You should also make note of the features that you want. Some people may want a toilet bowl enclosure and you also need to understand how the bowl, as well as the composter, will be open and shut. You should also understand the overall 19

21 composting process of your toilet whether it is continuous processing or batch processing. What Regulations? You also have to understand the various regulations that are in your area. This will have to do with the disposal of the waste material that is produced by your toilet. While the waste material is just compost, in some jurisdictions they may still see this as a waste material, so you have to consult with your jurisdiction to determine how all of this material is to be disposed of or how it can be used as a compost material. When Are They Most Often Used? Before you buy, you should determine where the toilet is going to be used and how often. In most cases, they are used in areas where there is a limited water supply or there's no water available at all. They may also be used in buildings or the owner wants to conserve their water supply. You should understand your maximum usage of the toilet and get a proper system that's going to fit your usage needs. Various Composting Toilet Brands There are numerous composting toilet manufacturers. This is a brief overview of some of the more common ones. Thetford This company sells many different toilet products including the composting toilet. They have numerous toilet products that you can choose from including a unique curved composting toilet that might be the perfect solution for an unusual space in a small home for example or a tiny home. they have a wide range of 20

22 different composting toilets to meet all of your needs and it's one company you might want to check out to see what they have to offer. Camco This company offers toilet products for Marinas, RV use, and other uses. They feature composting toilets that are rugged and built to last for several years. They are able to compete with some of the better composting toilet brands and this might be a company that you would like to check out to see what they have to offer you. Sun-Mar Composting Toilets Hardy Sundberg Founded this company in a 1971 and has been able to stay in step with the competition over many years. Sun Mar has a specialty when it comes to composting toilets. They provide some of the better composting toilets on the current market and they also feature great customer service. They have numerous helpful blogs, instructional videos, and other information to help you get started with your new composting toilet. They are able to stay in touch with their customer base and they have many media outlets and programs to help you understand your new composting toilet. This is definitely a company you should check out as a possible company to work with when you need a composting toilet. Sun-Mar COMPACT Electric Medium Capacity Self-Contained Composting Toilet The Sun-Mar COMPACT Electric Medium Capacity Self-Contained Composting Toilet is a natural, clean and environmentally friendly composting sanitary choice. If you want to have a medium capacity of Sun-Mar s sustainable options for your bathroom, have access to electricity, then you want to buy this composting toilet. This lets you utilize the natural 21

23 decomposition process in a modern and sanitary design. This is an excellent choice for your tiny house. Nature s Head This company has a wide range of toilets and they are full of great features. They have easy to use toilet models and keep all of their composting toilets at a reasonable price. They have higher to the composting toilets that don't cost you a large Fortune. One nice feature about this company is they have a five-year warranty on their toilet products. this company stands behind the products that they are selling, and they have one of the most familiar toilet designs on the market. This company along with Sun Mar are perhaps the two biggest composting toilet brands on the market. Conclusion 22

24 You have a lot to think about when it comes to buying your composting toilet. You have to make note of where you're going to install the toilet system. It's important to get measurements so you understand the size of the toilet that you should be buying. You also need to know how often you're going to be using your new toilet system as some toilets are only designed for small use while other ones can be used all of the time. If you have any questions we are happy to help you find the best composting toilet to meet your needs today. If you're interested in composting toilets, we have a wide range of composting toilets solutions to meet all of your needs. Please visit our Product Details page for more information about our offer. You can also call us at (800) or send us an through our support@tinyhousesupplyshop.com. 23