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montague
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# Posted: 17 Mar 2014 02:15pm - Edited by: montague
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I have a Sunmar NE at my cabin (four years). Yes, it does stop composting in the winter.
But I mainly use the place during hunting season and the trick is to get the drum down to minimum amount prior to end of October.
2 people for 10 or so weekends of hunting or snowmobiling are not a problem, it becomes a holding tank.
I keep a bucket toilet and the plastic doody bags things as back up, but never needed them.
During the rest of the year, the composting toilet cannot be beat.
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Smawgunner
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# Posted: 17 Mar 2014 03:38pm
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I don't think these things need to be all that complicated unless you're using your cabin full time. My friend lives in a house trailer with no septic and he has a bin/holding tank enclosed below the trailer. He lives alone and empties it once a year. It's awesome! No smell, can see it...can't beat it! He has a urine diverter so the two don't mix. He uses wood chips and sawdust. It is also vented with a small computer CPU fan. I'm going to base mine on his design.
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stickbowcrafter
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# Posted: 17 Mar 2014 11:18pm
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Interesting ideas. I like the idea of building my own system. I'm kicking around the idea of building my own dry composting toilet using a square plastic bin under the floor that can be removed from outside for dumping instead of the round plastic barrel designs. I think with the proper sealing and venting, it could work well. I'll keep you posted.
-Brian
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Fanman
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2014 07:28am
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We have a BioLet in our cabin. It works OK, but I can't say I'm particularly happy with it, or their service, and it was [IMO] very overpriced for what it is. My wife is the only one who uses it most of the time, so it generally goes all summer without emptying, then I empty it in the spring at the start of the season once I have water to clean up. We did have a real problem one year when my mother in law was staying with us, she had chronic diarrhea but I guess she was embarrassed to say anything about it, those things can't handle that much liquid and cleaning it was one of the most unpleasant experiences I've ever had. Last summer the fan inside it went, and they wanted over $100 for a replacement... I found a close match that I was able to adapt for about $10. If I was doing it again I think I'd go with the simpler bucket system, less effective but easier to deal with. We do have a community shared outhouse but my wife doesn't like to use it.
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Fireboat52
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2014 08:13am
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I think it is helpful to get past the notion that you want a system that you only have to empty once a century. A system that you empty once a week has numerous advantages, specifically ease of emptying, outside composting, immediate use of the urine for fertilizer, no ventilation necessary, easy and effective insect control, ergonomic and esthetic design (doesn't look like you are crapping in a washing machine), and low cost. It is literally thinking outside (or more correctly away from) the box.
What is being sold to the public today is seriously overly complex.
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Smawgunner
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2014 09:09am
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Ideally don't you want something that when you're ready to empty..to be composted? How long does it take for human waste to be ready for "dumping"? I know that depends on what you mix with it, air flow etc. But generally. When I go to empty mine (not built yet), it'd be nice to take the bin and dump it over (most recent poo now on the bottom of the pile) and the stuff on top be mostly if not all broken down and composted. At least that's what I have in mind for my system. Am I off base?
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stickbowcrafter
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2014 09:24am - Edited by: stickbowcrafter
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Smaw, I just finished reading the Humanure Handbook and it addressed everything you mentioned. The link will take you to a free PDF copy of the book.
http://www.weblife.org/humanure/pdf/humanure_handbook_third_edition.pdf
-Brian
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Smawgunner
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2014 09:43am
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Quoting: stickbowcrafter Smaw, I just finished reading the Humanure Handbook and it addressed everything you mentioned. The link will take you to a free PDF copy of the book.
Nice! Great resource. 256 pages...who knew there was that much crap about crap. I'll put in in my bathroom for reading. Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode about the coffee table book!
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Fireboat52
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2014 12:23pm
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Jenkins has basically written the bible on managing your own waste, but he uses an very basic bucket and chuck-it method that mixes the urine and feces. If you have a ton of garden material that you can use as composting meduim then his system is perfect. Look at his videos and you will see that he uses pretty large compost towers because he wants it to compost through the winter. Watch the videos on Youtube.
If you are wanting a smaller scale and simpler system, go with a urine diverting toilet and then use black soldier flies to consume the solid waste. They can reduce the volume of your feces by 95% while it is being heat treated via thermophilic composting. The larva thrive in very hot environment like thermophilic composting. It is very easy to do and costs almost nothing. You will never know that the black soldier flies are there because as flies they don't eat and they significantly reduce the housefly population because in the larva stage, they eat the housefly eggs and larva along with the waste. All you need is two five gallon buckets. Check out the BoonJon system. I created the system and the webpage and it explains briefly but better how this is done. http://www.c-head.com/BoonJon_system.html
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stickbowcrafter
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# Posted: 20 Mar 2014 08:10pm
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One thing I have not come across, what kind of toilet paper do you use and does it go in the bucket with the sawdust/peat moss for the compost pile?
-Brian
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Fireboat52
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# Posted: 20 Mar 2014 08:28pm
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With a urine diverting system, you can use normal tp but it is better to put it in a seperate waste basket and then add it to the compostable material when you empty the solid waste collection container. Put the paper in first and then pour the contents of the collection container on top of that. If you are using soldier flies to process the waste, they will shread the tp in very short order which will dramatically speed up the composting of the paper. Eventually, earth worms will move in when the thermophilic process has cooled and they will turn the cellulose into worm castings.
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 20 Mar 2014 09:59pm
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Quoting: Fireboat52 you can use normal tp but it is better to put it in a seperate waste basket
I bet that is nice on a hot humid day and flies are around
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stickbowcrafter
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# Posted: 21 Mar 2014 02:22am
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Yeah I was starting to wrap my head around going in a bucket of peat moss but I may have to draw the line on storing used tp...
-Brian
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Fireboat52
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# Posted: 21 Mar 2014 05:18am - Edited by: Fireboat52
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Actually, if you are using soldier flies to digest the waste and speed up composting, they will reduce the housefly population significantly because they eat the house fly larva. Soldier flies do not eat in the fly stage, they only mate, lay eggs and die. That is why most people have never seen a soldier fly. You basically create a housefly trap by treating your waste with soldier fly larva. Go to Youtube and Google and search "black soldier flies".
People who cruise in boats commonly put their tp in a small plastic lined trash bin instead of flushing it down the toilet because it is a bitch unclogging the head. It is really not that offensive or uncivilized, just put a lid on top of the container. What little waste that is on the paper dries very fast and does not attract insects nor does it smell.
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 21 Mar 2014 07:31am
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Quoting: Fireboat52 nor does it smell.
so your saying your poop don't stink...lol
sorry~~~I could not resist...lol
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Fireboat52
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# Posted: 21 Mar 2014 11:54am
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That's quite alright, my wife and I have come up with some good lines too, like "we're number one in the number two business". When you are in the poop business you have to have a sense of humor.
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stickbowcrafter
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# Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:58pm
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I can appreciate the necessity and coming from a guy who kills and cleans a lot of his own meals, I wouldn't consider it offensive or uncivilized. It's just a huge shift of perspective from going in flush toilets for the last 39 years.
-Brian
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BaconCreek
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# Posted: 21 Mar 2014 09:14pm
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We have a compost system and rotate 2 buckets. We tried the RV TP at first but there is no way this works for us. We use regular TP ,baby wipes and bury the bucket when it is full. In the summer when it is so hot and the ground is too hard to dig a hole we dump it way in the woods. This has worked great for us. We use our place mostly weekends.
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Smawgunner
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# Posted: 21 Mar 2014 09:34pm
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Until we build a system...we are burning it, anyone do this for a temporary solution?
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Woodthrush
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# Posted: 12 Jun 2014 04:42am - Edited by: Woodthrush
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I live in my cabin in the woods full time and am using the Humanure system (5 gal bucket) and wood shavings. The potty is outside of the cabin in a little tent. Next to the potty is a bag of wood shavings, and there is a separate little bucket with a plastic trash bag for the TP. I twist the top of that closed every time, and throw the little bag in the regular trash. Trash service comes once a week up on the next maintained road.
On urine diverting, maybe this is TMI, but it is possible to pee separately (little bucket, pour it in the woods) even if you are female. As much as possible, only solid waste goes into the buckets.
When the No.2 bucket gets full, I just put a lid on and let it sit in the sun for a few weeks, then dump it far out in the woods. It seems to digest quickly, no odor.
We just had a bitter cold winter with lots of ice and snow (to -10 F, Ohio). I just put lids on the buckets as they filled up and kept them in the tent. Once the spring came,, I let them sit in the sun for the last two months. When I emptied them, no smell, all ok.
I will say that sometimes I don't want to go out in the cold tent in the winter but it's not that big a deal because this is working well for me. I don't have running water and don't want to put in a septic system. I have electricity and backup heat so life is good. The thought of taking down any of these beautiful trees to lay plumbing just tears me apart. I moved here for the beauty of the woods and the peace and quiet and I want to keep it pristine.
Anyway just my experience and I surely enjoy reading everybody's different ideas.
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luther
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# Posted: 12 Jun 2014 09:24am
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I use an envirolet composting toilet and at first I was throwing the tp into the system after each use but I found that the tp was not breaking down as fast as the "other material" was drying out. The tp was taking up space and making me empty the system more often. I began to place the used tp in a plastic bagged lined covered garbage can and the system seems to work much better. I also have not noticed any foul smell from the tp.
Cheers
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Skiguy
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# Posted: 4 Aug 2014 10:04am
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I have had great success with my waterless compost toilet. I bought it from a guy who was renovating a cottage for 300 bucks. It works well to use at night time or in a emergency with the rest of time using the outhouse. There is no odor at all even when its gets full and when emptying it. Here is the website of the model that I have.
http://www.envirolet.ca/enwatsel.html
Check around on Kijiji or craigs list for a used one you wont be disappointed.
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CootersShabin
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# Posted: 18 Sep 2014 03:59pm - Edited by: CootersShabin
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I have a question along these lines. We have been using the 5 gallon bucket and composting it once full for almost a year now up at the Cabin. I have been covering the "current" bucket when we leave, but 2 trips ago we left it open on accident. It seemed the pile greatly reduced/compacted in the those two weeks. So, I'm wondering which is a better approach? Put a cover on the bucket when you'll be gone for 2 weeks + or always leave it uncovered? It's currently sitting up there uncovered, and the only reason I can think of where it'd be a bad idea is the event of critters knocking over the sh!tter and making a mess. (Note, my Showter (Half-Shower, Half Sh!tter) has open walls. I'm going to post pictures of it somewhere here.)
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Steve961
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# Posted: 18 Sep 2014 04:56pm
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From a public health standpoint it should always be covered. Certain insects, the common housefly in particular, are known to feed on both human feces and human food. This can transport any diseases that are present in the feces to uncooked food which can then cause illness. This is also why it's important to use a cover material when composting human waste. If you're the only one that ever uses the toilet, then it's less of a concern, but you never know who might be using it when you're not there.
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Fireboat52
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# Posted: 18 Sep 2014 08:26pm - Edited by: Fireboat52
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Steve961 - Actually if you create an environment that attracts black soldier flies, they will eradicate the housefly population in the area. It is easy to do. Basicly, concentrate the solid waste from your toilet to the middle of the compost pile by taking a 5 gal bucket and cutting off the bottom. This keeps the waste in the center of the pile where the thermophalic composting is the hottest. The soldier flies prefer a very warm environment to reproduce in. Take a second bucket and cut off the bottom just below the rim so that it nestles on top of the bucket with the bottom cut out. Put a lid on it and cut about four or five 1" diameter holes into the sides of the top bucket. This will allow the solider flies and house flies to access the waste inside. Fix a small sponge to the underside of the lid to give the black soldier flies a place to land and lay their eggs. Lay a 2ft x 2ft board and a brick on top of the lid to keep the rain from pooling and keep animals out. Raccoons love soldier fly larva. Finally, plant sweet potato vines around the outside of the bucket near the edge of the compost pile.
Here is how it works. You provide a shelter and reproductive center for the soldier flies. They do not lay their eggs in the waste but rather above it so that they develop to the larva stage unmolested and then fall into the waste. House flies on the other hand (actually, almost all other common flies) lay their eggs directly in the waste. Soldier flies will come to dominate the waste pit in about three weeks in the early spring. The are voracious eaters and will eat literally everything except bone and cellulose. They will also eat all of the house fly eggs and larva so the container becomes a huge roach hotel for flies.
Black soldier flies do not eat in the adult stage so they are not attracted to your food or home. The only live long enough to mate and lay eggs, usually 5 days. They live and mate on the underside of leaves so the sweet potatoes will provide the environment for them to do that as well as make the compost pile look beautiful. We have been using this system to compost our waste for two years and other than a short period in the spring when the soldier flies are developing, we have had absolutely no house flies in our home. They are drawn to the waste pit and there their offspring die.
This is called the BoonJon system. Google it.
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CootersShabin
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# Posted: 9 Oct 2014 12:50pm
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Anyone else? In regards to a "current" compost bucket (sawdust toilet):
I'm wondering which is a better approach? Put a cover on the bucket when you'll be gone for 2 weeks + or always leave it uncovered?
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creeky
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# Posted: 9 Oct 2014 05:14pm
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update to my post about bokashi.
the culture. i've just made my first batch. is easy to make. the advantage to bokashi is that the bacteria is like that in yogurt. it digests your waste materials and makes it safe.
apparently a bokashi composting toilet, which is a sawdust toilet/humanure system with the addition of the bacterial agent, will compost your wastes in two weeks. I'm still about a month away from my install, but will report back.
my envirolet is still working well. it's three years full time and I've done one empty cycle. and am due to do (lol) another sometime over the next few weeks. i dump the soggy but supposedly composted excess in a straw pile in a forested area over 100 yards/meters from any water/etc source for additional return to nature time...
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OutOfDoors
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# Posted: 31 May 2016 07:38am - Edited by: OutOfDoors
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We are setting up our first bucket composting toilet compost bin. We have access to pine shavings and wonder if we can use them as the sponge layer on the bottom of the bin, and subsequently as the cover material after dumping the buckets. We will have limited access to other materials. We are using peat moss in the composting toilet.
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p0rtia
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# Posted: 1 Jun 2016 07:40pm
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I don't see why not. I've used everything and anything (usually leaves, which is what I have the most of) to throw on top after dumping. I don't think you need a bottom layer, but I don't think it will do any harm. Just filled my first compost bin--four summers worth--with no problems.
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Ontario lakeside
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# Posted: 1 Jun 2016 10:42pm
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I just got a Sepparet composting toilet off Craigslist. Its new in box, I got it for a excellent price but its the AC unit. Anyone know how to convert it to 12volt or Im thinking of using a whirligig on the vent stack to draw air out. would that be enough air flow?
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