20 Frequently Asked Questions About Composting Toilet That You ...

• Do you need to keep the fan on at all times for ventilation?

Even the best compost toilet can require venting for the composting process. It can use a fan for this purpose and they are like computer fans so super efficient and usually 12v. The fan has to run throughout if it is a busy toilet. You cannot avoid this as it helps in processing the compost faster. However, you can unplug the fan if you are not using the bathroom for a few days but just keep turning it and know there could be more smell than usual in the tiny house.

• What to do with urine from the composting toilet?

Plants and trees can benefit from urine. You can dilute one part urine to eight parts water to use it as fertilizer for plants. You don't have to worry about the smell. I use it around the yard all the time. I also pee around my yard when no one is there so there's that.

• How to deal with compostable material?

You can pack it in a garbage bag and dump it in the trash like a baby diaper or add it to a compost pile for processing. I use a separate compost bin outside for this and let it compose for an additional 6 months before using it around Shellmate Island.

• Can you urinate standing up?

Yes, you can. You don't have to think twice if it is a urine-diverting system as mentioned above. Otherwise, sit and relieve your pressure to avoid sending liquid into the solids bin. Since these toilets don't come with a lift-up seat, men need to be a bit more careful about how they use it, practice makes perfect.

If there are compost toilets for sale, you can choose a model that stores solids and liquids in one place. My Nature Head compost toilet has two separate containers for this exact reason.

• How to keep compost toilet tiny house clean?

Sometimes, the bowl can get weird, to say the least. If you have a small spray bottle filled with water and vinegar, you can squirt it down and always does the trick.

• Will there be an insect problem with the compost toilet?

Since these are odorless systems, you may not have to worry about worms, flies, and other bugs. But exceptions can happen. If you use bulk materials from your backyards, such as peat or wood chips, there is a risk that they contain larvae or insect eggs, which can invade the system after hatching. Or, flies can enter the chamber if the fan is not running for many days. The easy solution to this problem is to keep it running so that they don't get any free passage and add additional netting to any exhaust system you make for the compost toilet. I also think that the coconut shaving bugs tend to not like but this is strictly bro-science.

• Does a compost toilet need electricity?

Several models consume power for continuous venting with the fans. Some draw electricity from batteries, while others attach to wall plugins such as my Nature Head compost toilet and has an outlet right next to it in my tiny house on wheels

• What can you add to your compost toilet?

You can learn about it from the manufacturer's manual. Although most of them provide their mix, you can use other items like coconut fiber, peat moss, and sawdust.