Composting Toilets

[sabray]

I feel bad challenging what you call compost. You have to admit that desiccating and compost are different.
For some reason beyond debate we won't go there.
The treatment and containment between the 2 very different systems is not comparable. Could you clarify the category your system falls under?

[RainDog]

I think by habit Ocean Girl means that these types of toilets are called composting toilets. All the manufacturers call them composting toilets (or at least Airhead and Natureshead do) and the type of toilet is generally referred to on the forums as a composting toilet. They do actually produce compost, so it is not strictly incorrect to call them composting toilets.

That said I do agree that to make these toilets work at their best, it is important for the user to focus on desiccating the waste. It is really the desiccation that makes the waste odor free and removes pathogens.

See Survival of Fecal Coliforms in Dry-Composting Toilets for more information.

[Ocean Girl]

Awe, my hubby coming to my rescue .

Sebray, our head is classified as MDS III. Sorry if I was vague, you know me I love talking about our cool head. I've been fighting a headache last couple days so have a hard time thinking.

Cheers and thanks for the great discussion, this is new stuff to us, so challenging the accepted info, and the fact that these heads are not discussed in great detail, is great
Erika

[Steve Bean]

There's a discussion on homemade desiccating heads on SailFar.net. Based on the experiences of others there, I'm experimenting with my own. I'm using an ordinary 5-gallon plastic bucket, peat moss or sawdust, and an oval toilet seat. No fan. No odor. Very low cost. I separate the liquid.
Go to SailFar.net and search for "The $10-20 ". It's not for everyone, but it is for me.

[bletso]

Originally Posted by Rhapsody-NS27

I decided to go with an Airhead instead. The main reason for the change of mind is seeing how the main tank lid opens up on the NH requires more space (a couple inches)behind the unit for it to open up so you can empty the tank.

Actually, you can remove the top hinge. This allows you to simply unsnap and lift the top off. That is what I did. BTW, Nature's Head staff are great and the service is exemplary!

[cblurton]

There is a terrific thread here about all the different kinds of marine toilets and user's views of them. I have read through that, this thread and many other discussions. I haven't yet found any mention of Separett toilets.

Do any of you have experience with this brand? I ask because it has been recommended as having a composting model that will handle more waste than the Nature's Head, Air Head or C-Head composting toilets.

We want to put a composting toilet on our school boat (as many as 20 people out for a day sail a few times a week) but the other three brands all report that they would be inadequate for this application.

Craig

[tdoster]

Please forgive my ignorance. But my understanding it the liquid pee goes into a separate container and the poo is composted into dirt.

What do you do with the pee bucket when it fills up?

[Mycroft]

My understanding is that you dump it out in a nearby restroom or you can optionally plumb the drain to a holding tank. I'm planning on doing the latter.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by tdoster

Please forgive my ignorance. But my understanding it the liquid pee goes into a separate container and the poo is composted into dirt.

What do you do with the pee bucket when it fills up?

If you want to meet the letter of the law, any shoreside toilet will do the trick. Not like the liquid will block it.

If you are more realistic and not in a marina or congested anchorage...