Compost toilet review

[suneye]

We decided to put a composting toilet in our new van - but I was dubious and I hung on to our thetford cube just in case. Some raved about composting loos, some hated them! I know that I hate bad smells or 'background' smells and even a hint of 'composting' would put me off. We have a seperator and have already used the pee pot for a while but this week we didn't have any other option than to use the whole thing. The weather being so hot meant that it was a good test for how this would work in a hot van! It worked brilliantly! I can now get rid of the old loo and am another convert to the composting loo.

 

[wildebus]

We decided to put a composting toilet in our new van - but I was dubious and I hung on to our thetford cube just in case. Some raved about composting loos, some hated them! I know that I hate bad smells or 'background' smells and even a hint of 'composting' would put me off. We have a seperator and have already used the pee pot for a while but this week we didn't have any other option than to use the whole thing. The weather being so hot meant that it was a good test for how this would work in a hot van! It worked brilliantly! I can now get rid of the old loo and am another convert to the composting loo.

Did you do a DIY one or bought a Natures Head or similar?

 

[suneye]

We used the kildwick separator and containers and put it under a seat with a tiny computer fan.

 

[DnK]

I fitted a Compoost separator wc 7 months ago, it's great quality, and simple operation. No smells at all. I replaced the standard fan that came fitted for a computer super quite jobby because the faint hum was annoying at night.

 

[wildebus]

Some of those prices are a bit silly?
Modesty Cover - £35?
Urine bottle - £30?? That really is taking the p..... !

 

[Nabsim]

Kildwick prices not bad though I don’t think

 

[SquirrellCook]

Not for me, I think it’s C***

 

[suneye]

You don't have to use their containers any good quality container that fits would do the same job. I would imagine that a modesty cover is just a lid, easy enough to make if you wanted one. The bit you really need is the separating seat I think. I am sooo happy never to have to empty a porta loo ever again and all the problems around finding somewhere to do that!

 

[DnK]

Some of those prices are a bit silly?
Modesty Cover - £35?
Urine bottle - £30?? That really is taking the p..... !

Just buy the separator and build your own box, use another cheaper poop container and urine bottle.

 

[DnK]

I am sooo happy never to have to empty a porta loo ever again and all the problems around finding somewhere to do that!

Ours was a sog cassette, but agree never having to put up with the smell when emptying and as you say looking for places to do it. It makes off grid so much easier.

 

[Nabsim]

Think I will look more at these when my thetford gives up the ghost. Problem i see though is ours is a swivel bowl, not sure how much of a problem a fixed unit would be, think it would need bathroom redesign and moving sink as well

 

[wildebus]

I think there is definitely some benefits of "composting' toilets (not sure why they are actually called that as nobody empties them to use as compost).
There seems to be two extremes with them ... The commercially produced ones at frankly rediculous prices or the DIY modified buckets
If there was a reasonably priced Thetford/Dometic swap out system I bet it would be mega-popular and the makers could bag themselves a ****load of money

 

[SquirrellCook]

A major improvement in personal and public health was the invention of the water closet. I struggle to see the passion for going backwards. I have used the toilet at the end of the garden. And remember the burying in the garden.
I have even helped out at St. John’s Ambulance Cadets Camps where the toilets were a trench dug in the ground. Having to be moved every few days. Though it worked very well, was eventually banned for hygiene reasons.
As for how you intended to do the clean up and disposal I shudder to think.

 

[wildebus]

A major improvement in personal and public health was the invention of the water closet. I struggle to see the passion for going backwards. I have used the toilet at the end of the garden. And remember the burying in the garden.
I have even helped out at St. John’s Ambulance Cadets Camps where the toilets were a trench dug in the ground. Having to be moved every few days. Though it worked very well, was eventually banned for hygiene reasons.
As for how you intended to do the clean up and disposal I shudder to think.

At Camp Quirky Festival last year they had "Composting" toilets rather than the more typical Portaloos with flushes.
I didn't partake in the use but preferred to use my own facilities. Linda tried them one and came out with a shudder from what I recall. It was not an experience she repeated.

(I think to be fair, this would be the case in many Festival toilets - any shared facilities tend to get messed up (which is why I avoid them generally))

 

[Nabsim]

Well

A major improvement in personal and public health was the invention of the water closet. I struggle to see the passion for going backwards. I have used the toilet at the end of the garden. And remember the burying in the garden.
I have even helped out at St. John’s Ambulance Cadets Camps where the toilets were a trench dug in the ground. Having to be moved every few days. Though it worked very well, was eventually banned for hygiene reasons.
As for how you intended to do the clean up and disposal I shudder to think.

dont know about members here but I know a few folks with composting toilets, wee goes in the hedge and solids in a bag in a bin. Not sure there is any more risk to health whichever method you use as they both have to be emptied out.

 

[DnK]

dont know about members here but I know a few folks with composting toilets, wee goes in the hedge and solids in a bag in a bin. Not sure there is any more risk to health whichever method you use as they both have to be emptied out.

With a separator wc theres also there's no need to add chemicals to mask smells and then cause the need for specialist dumping and thereafter treatment before it reenters the environment.

 

[mistericeman]

With a separator wc theres also there's no need to add chemicals to mask smells and then cause the need for specialist dumping and thereafter treatment before it reenters the environment.

Sawdust (cat litter pellets), coffee grounds, etc etc...
The world is your oyster as far as bio degradable covering materials make it a,
much greener system IMHO than at worst using nasty chemicals and at best good clean water....

Used correctly and managed properly, composting loos are great things.

There will always be those that don't like the idea (mostly those that have used 'Latrines'... Many years ago OR those that just can't get their heads around not using clean water to flush.

I was going the compost loo route in the next van after the transit Jumbo BUT ended up getting a, Moho instead...
And sadly the built in cassette loos are difficult to convert due to the size of the cassette compartment.

 

[suneye]

I understand the reservations, I was a sceptic myself. I was worried about smells and flies and uncleanliness but none of them were realized. It turned out to be very clean and non smelly. The pee pot does need emptying regularly but being only pee that was easily done. It means we can be away longer and no hideous cassette emptying when we get home. I get though that people see thing differently, I was massively impressed with the toilets at camp quirky, having used festival toilets that usually require a nose peg and some desperation, I thought they were a big step up.

 

[suneye]

Mistericeman Coffee grounds? Not heard of using these but i'm interested.

 

[wildebus]

I understand the reservations, I was a sceptic myself. I was worried about smells and flies and uncleanliness but none of them were realized. It turned out to be very clean and non smelly. The pee pot does need emptying regularly but being only pee that was easily done. It means we can be away longer and no hideous cassette emptying when we get home. I get though that people see thing differently, I was massively impressed with the toilets at camp quirky, having used festival toilets that usually require a nose peg and some desperation, I thought they were a big step up.

Ref Camp Quirky.... interesting. sometimes it can take a single user to totally alter the "situation" of a toilet and the resulting perception.

Ref "Composting" material. I am not sure of the product (could be Peat but as said, not sure) but I have heard of some folk using some organic product that tends to contain insect eggs, and the heat generated after being used in a composting toilet caused a mega infestation in their vans (and this happened to a few people) so worth being sure of what is being used!