Author Topic: Compost loo (Read 3867 times)

mwncigirl · « **on:** February 24, 2013, 05:13:47 pm »

Hi does anyone have any experience of building a stand alone compost loo? Thanks

goosepimple · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2013, 05:34:36 pm »

We inherited a couple here where we live. One is in a turret (like a castle

) it has a timber seat, you pea or poo as normal then you have a shovel and some nice fresh wood shavings you pour on top to stop the smell (roses in my case

). The ones we have are just buckets below the seat so you can then transport the contents to somewhere else once there is a build up. You can have one you have steps up to so you can have a compartment below or a big composting bin which you can remove the contents over time, or I've seen a diagram somewhere for a double one - a two compartment if you like so it takes longer to fill.

I'll try and get photos on of the ones we have - at least for entertainment value

suziequeue · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2013, 02:25:01 pm »

You need to be clear on what you are trying to achieve. Most people when they think of a composting toilet are actually thinking of a deep pit latrine which is managed in a slightly different way.

We had a composting toilet installed eighteen months ago. It has a double vault and a pee separating baffle for ladies. Gents are instructed not to pee into the composting toilet but to go on the compost heap nearby. Users are encouraged to throw in a handful of sawdust after each visit - more to help with the structure than anything else. The toilet doesn't smell at all. It doubles up as a tool shed and it was very expensive!!!!

We will change the vault this year, let the compost rot down for a year and then use it in the garden next spring.

mwncigirl · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:50:41 pm »

I think that is the system we will end up going for Suziequeue. Do you have any photos?

suziequeue · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2013, 09:56:58 pm »

http://natsol.co.uk/examples/private/

Ours is the one at the bottom of the page. We have since stained it green-ish.

goosepimple · « **Reply #5 on:** February 26, 2013, 09:46:36 am »

oh sorry, I put photos on the other similar post

the great composto · « **Reply #6 on:** February 26, 2013, 09:51:59 am »

[quote
Ours is the one at the bottom of the page. We have since stained it green-ish.
[/quote]

sorry but..............

suziequeue · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:58:10 am »

Hee Hee Hee. (Sorry - can't do icons on this contraption) :-)

langfauld easycare · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2013, 06:43:11 pm »

weve got one .there are a few different ones they on www.envirolet.com . but quite expensive.

bazzais · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2013, 11:38:04 am »

My advice in a compost loo - is dont put too much effort into it - cos you have to move it every year if its well used

suziequeue · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2013, 05:44:51 pm »

Bazzia's comment illustrates my comment. Moving regularly sounds like a properly managed deep trench latrine. A composting loo is a slightly different and more permanent structure in which the composted sewage is removed periodically and the pedestal can be moved to a different collecting vault (either in the same structure or not).

IMO alot of people confuse a composting loo with a badly managed DTL which is - basically a deep hole full of untreated sewage which people just continue to use until it pops.