Level Up Your Boondocking - Composting Toilet Install

[J. Morgan]

http://youtu.be/G1G5LFmmEqg


Talis gentium ceciderunt.

[BoldAdventure]

Made you all look at my poop. :P

[xrvr]

Amazing how if you follow instructions and have common sense that things work out correctly.

[SeaLevel]

Originally Posted by BoldAdventure

Made you all look at my poop. :P

Idea for photo of the month thread? No... I don't think so.

[KJRitchie]

Lots of fiber in their diet.

[kb7our]

Originally Posted by avionstream

Amazing how if you follow instructions and have common sense that things work out correctly.

Exactly...like enabling the fan to keep moisture at bay which the video indicated was not done.

[andreasduess]

Got the call from CanAm today that our Nature's Head is installed and ready to go - so to speak.

[Gearheart]

What were the damages. I'm in Kitchener and Can Am is just down the 401.

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by Gearheart

What were the damages. I'm in Kitchener and Can Am is just down the 401.

The toilet was $1100 shipped, installation was $750. I went with a solar fan, so they didn't even had to wire the vent into the trailer.

[BoldAdventure]

Another helpful resource, if you want to help out your bacertia and speed up the breakdown of materials you can use this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sun-Mar-5...500G/203503067

[andreasduess]

[IMG][/IMG]

Installed and ready to go.

[BoldAdventure]

I wanted to return to this thread after 3 months of ownership or 92 days with a follow up post.

I wrote a Q&A style post on my blog of life with the toilet: https://boldandadventurous.com/Life-...osting-toilet/

For anyone who wants to argue about legality of disposal here is a summary of my research, which applies to the United States of America taken from my above blog post:

The Environmental Protection Agency has no jurisdiction over the byproducts of a dry toilet as long as excreta are not referred to as “fertilizer”. Thus, individual states regulate composting toilets.

Many questions about have focused on the disposal in landfills. And the EPA does regulate those. Today’s landfills are designed to minimize their impact on the surrounding environment. They are built and operated to prevent contamination of groundwater and surface water, prevent the release of methane gas, and prevent unstable soil conditions. In most landfills, garbage is added in a series of layers and covered with heavy soil to prevent water from seeping through and percolating into underground water.

Most of the regulation of the composting toilets and disposal is for housing. No one cares about RVs apparently.

I have compiled an entire STATE BY STATE break down of every law regarding composting toilets CLICK HERE for your viewing and reading pleasure. It contains every source, mailing address, point of contact and phone number for government agencies of source.

A quick summary.

The EPA regulates landfills. Landfills can accept human excreta.

These states don’t give a literal poo and have no laws or regulations:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming

These states have regulations about composting toilets. Some of it long and boring. Almost all regarding housing. I am not a lawyer. This is my interpretation.

Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia

[Monza]

Thanks for all the details on your blog. Sounds like a great option.

[0557]

I have been using the Natures Head for over a year and empty my compost into a black 30 gallon trash bag and take it to the dumpster in the RV park. It's not a big deal nor am I under any regulations.

[Air83]

Has anyone tried to divert the urine to the black tank? Maybe place a hose and funnel under the toilet ring, instead of the urine bottle and put that liquid into the black tank. I’m thinking with vinegar also in the black tank to cut down odors this would work.

[Gearheart]

Just take the P bottle dilute it 8/1 with water and find a deserving shrubbery to fertilize.

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by Air83

Has anyone tried to divert the urine to the black tank? Maybe place a hose and funnel under the toilet ring, instead of the urine bottle and put that liquid into the black tank. I’m thinking with vinegar also in the black tank to cut down odors this would work.

The entire idea is not to have a black tank.

[labtopia]

After nearly a year of in-town boondocking with my NATURES HEAD things are surprisingly great still. The quality of the unit is great and no problems.

I see some people posting about the emptying of the pee jug. It's not a problem, i'd recommend getting a second jug for the odd night you forgot to dump it and you really gotta go. I have not had issues with odor of the pee jug- i put a splash of vinigar in there and shake it after dumping.

As for dumping the pee jug, i've usually dumped it and fertilized the plant life around me. Google 'urine fertilizer' and you'll find good info on this. The foliage around me has never looked better and thrives.

As for the poop base, not a big deal to empty, not smelly, not sludgy. I use coco coir, i got a big brick on amazon for 10$ and a year later not fully used. My experience in frequency of emptying is different though it seems. In 11 mos, i've emptied it 3 times (3mos). Also, it is important to hook up the fan and vent to the outside. On the vent ports I found that you have to put window screening with a rubber band over the inlet, fan outlet, and outlet to the outside. If you don't you will get a wicked gnat infestation in the toilet and in your trailer.

11 mos in and could not be happier with NH (also if you see the pic on the link i put it on some 4x4's and plywood to fit and gets it to a good height.)

http://180sqft.drinkertoys.com/1-2-natures-head/

dave

[Cispook]

This would be a plus for anyone who wants to be more efficient.

[BoscoMN]

I can also say that our Natures Head composting toilet has worked very well for my wife and I. Here is a link to a summary of our installation into our 2015 19' FC: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f446...ml#post1821825