What accessories do you need for composting toilets?
Composting toilets, the higher class of urine-diverting toilets, require few accessories to function properly. It is important that an exhaust air hose is installed in the motorhome, camper or garden shed. This can either be routed outside or, with a special filter, end inside the room. If the hose is routed outside, a special gill grille should be fitted so that no insects can get inside. The exhaust air hose is supplied with the dry toilet and is located on one side; on the other side is the fan, which in combination with the hose ensures constant drying. A power connection must be available for both components to work. Toilet litter is also required, which is filled into the solids container before first use. We recommend coconut fibre for this, which is available as coconut fibre bricks, as these have the best properties. A small spray bottle can be carried as an accessory for cleaning the compost toilet.
Do I need a special composter if I want to compost my toilet waste?
No, you don't need a special composter for the toilet waste produced by a composting toilet. As composting toilets, like all dry separation toilets, work without water or chemicals, the end product contains only natural ingredients. The solid waste container can simply be emptied into your own composter. Together with other garden waste, this creates valuable humus that can be used as fertiliser. However, you should ensure that you dispose of toilet paper separately when using the toilet. Toilet paper often contains bleach, so it should not be disposed of in the composter.
What litter do I need for the composting toilet?
For separating toilets that are intended for long-term use and pre-composting, a toilet litter is required that can absorb moisture well but also release a certain amount of it again. This property is important as the solids would otherwise become too moist and odours could develop in the solids container. Coconut fibre is best suited for this purpose. They are supplied as pressed coconut fibre bricks and swell with water to form a loose litter. Coconut fibre is a purely natural product that is created as a waste product during rope production. Because they are supplied as pressed coconut fibre bricks, they have an infinitely long shelf life and can be carried on a journey without the need for an additional container.
Do I need special toilet paper for the composting toilet?
No, no special toilet paper is required for this type of dry toilet. It is only important to ensure that the paper is a maximum of 2-ply when you buy it. The agitator, which is built into the solids container, must be able to tear the toilet paper, otherwise it could wrap itself around the crank and thus impair the toilet's functionality.
Do I need a special child seat for the composting toilet?
No, our composting toilets, such as the Nature's Head and OGO Origin, are shaped like a conventional toilet at home. This means that children as young as 3 - 4 years can use the dry toilet on their own. For younger children, parents should support their children in the sitting position to ensure that everything ends up in the designated containers.
What is the best way to clean a composting toilet?
Apart from the toilet seat and the toilet itself, a composting toilet hardly needs to be cleaned at all, as no residue remains in the solid waste container. If you want to clean the toilet seat and built-in separator insert, a vinegar/water mixture (1:10) is very suitable. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, apply a few squirts to the toilet and wipe with toilet paper. The faeces container can be removed if necessary and also cleaned with this mixture or with a high-pressure cleaner. The urine container of the dry toilet can be cleaned in the same way, but it is important that it is not rinsed with clear water as residues can lead to an ammonia odour. All components of the composting toilet must be allowed to dry thoroughly before the next use to ensure that the toilet functions optimally and odour-free.
What do I fill the solids container for the composting toilet with?
Unlike classic dry separation toilets, the solids container of separation toilets with a compost function is filled before the first use. With a composting toilet, it is important that the toilet litter has the property that it can bind the moisture in the solids, but can also release a certain amount so that the excrement remains dry and odourless. Coconut fibre has this property, which is why this material is ideally suited as litter for urine-diverting toilets. This substrate can be purchased as coconut fibre bricks and can therefore be carried in a space-saving manner.