A composting toilet is the one that does not run on the traditional flushing system. A composting toilet uses saw dust or peat moss to set out human waste and expel the airflow outwards. Most of the compost toilets do not use water at all.
Therefore, you do not need to attach the water supply with compost toilet. Compost toilets are mostly portable that you can easily take away from one place to another. While some compost toilets are fixed like conventional flushing systems and they are meant to last for a long time. A composting toilet uses a special system known as anaerobic processing system. This system is used to vent out the bad smell.
How to Use a Composting Toilet
Table of Contents
If you have decided to buy a composting toilet, then this decision will be very valuable for you in the long run as well. The only tip to get the most out of the composting toilet is to use it properly. You should know the proper procedure of using a compost toilet. Before reading the steps, it is important to understand about the parts of a compost toilet. A compost toilet has two parts.
Sitting section: just like your conventional toilet seats, the compost toilet’s sitting section is nearly the same. You could either sit on it or make a squat like position.
Compost section: the compost section includes space for your solid and liquid waste. It is designed with a hole to set aside the solid and liquid wastes. It also comes with a door to collect the compost.
Following is given a step by step procedure to know how to use a compost toilet.
- Put Saw Dust or Peat Moss
- Use for Solid or Liquid Waste
- Compost Toilet Without Trap Door
- Mixing the Solid Waste
- Final Step
Put Saw Dust or Peat Moss
When you get your new compost toilet, first step is to put saw dust or peat moss inside it. This will be helpful in reducing the bacteria that becomes the reason of bad odor.
Use Solid or Liquid Waste
If you are using the compost toilet for liquid waste, you do not have to worry whether where it will go? A compost toilet has a separate hole or chamber that does not allow the liquid waste to mix with the solid waste. This is done because when the solid and liquid wastes mix, it creates a very bad smell. You should also pour some water after liquid waste to dilute it.
If you are using the compost toilet for liquid waste, you should turn on the trap door lever after sitting on the toilet. This will lead the solid waste to the separate space where it does not get mixed with the liquid waste. Always remember to use a toilet paper that is easily degradable.
Compost Toilet Without Trap Door
Not all compost toilets come with trap doors. The ones which do not have trap door let the solid and the liquid waste mix with each other. If you are using the one with a trap door, then turn off the trap door lever properly after cleaning.
Mixing the Solid Waste
Some compost toilets come with an option to blend or mix the waste with the peat moss or the saw dust. This helps to speed up the decomposing process. It also prevents the bad smell. Some compost toilet models also come with fans. A fan helps to dry up the solid waste and prevents smell.
Final Step
It is recommended that you should clean your liquid waste from your compost toilet after every 3-4 days. Regarding the solid waste, it is recommended to empty your solid waste from your compost toilet after 90 or more uses.
You should put your solid waste in a biodegradable bag because it will speed up the decomposition process. The other option for putting the solid waste is your compost dump. You can empty it directly into your compost dump from where you use it after the decomposition is done and use it later for your garden.
Last Thoughts
Sugar and vinegar can be used to remove odor from your compost toilet. The compost toilet offers you compost that is beneficial for your garden. You cannot get this compost from traditional toilets. This compost will become a source of potassium, calcium, carbon and nitrogen for your garden which you cannot get from fertilizers available in the market.
Composting toilets are easy to install because you can easily install them on your own. There is no need to get into the hassle of getting a plumber. It is perfect for places which have very less resources of water.
Now that you know the benefits of a compost toilet and you know the steps of how to use a compost toilet, you can now easily plan to buy a new one!!!
