Separating Toilets

A separating toilet, or a higher-end separating toilet – the composting toilet for camping and motorhomes works with a separating insert that divides urine and solids. It is different with a dry toilet. In the latter, urine and solids are not pre-separated and disposed of. The number of uses and when it must be emptied or when the bag must be changed depends on the separating toilet itself. The stated number of uses always refers to the solid waste container—that is, how many uses it is designed for for 2 people without toilet paper during continuous use. This is the only way to specify an as objective as possible number of uses. For this type of camping toilet, no water and no chemicals are needed. It is therefore ideally suited for use when camping, in a motorhome, or even in the garden. It can be used both outdoors and indoors and is very easy and environmentally friendly to empty. Depending on the model of the separating toilet, it is also suitable for mobile applications, as it usually has a compact size and can thus be easily stowed in a motorhome, car, or while camping. Because conventional separating toilets do not necessarily have to be permanently installed, they are usually not suitable for off-road use.

What is a separating toilet?

A separating toilet, or composting toilet, is a camping toilet that operates on the principle of separating and drying. Every separating toilet features a separating insert that divides urine and solids and directs them into the designated container. The urine is diverted into a separate container, the urine tank. Similarly, the solids are collected in a separate container. This way, both can be disposed of separately. In a conventional toilet, as you know from home, urine and solids are not separated and water is required for disposal. In contrast, a separating toilet operates completely without water and without chemicals. With a composting toilet, there is no need to insert a bag into the container for use, which would then have to be disposed of. It is sufficient to add the designated substrate into the solid waste container before use.

What types of separating toilets are there?

There are different types of separating toilets. One can distinguish between a dry toilet, a separating toilet, and the highest class, the composting toilet. It should be noted that a dry toilet is not a separating toilet, as it does not have a separating insert and therefore does not pre-separate urine and solids. A dry toilet can be thought of like a regular home toilet, with the difference that it does not require a wastewater connection. In a dry toilet, all excretions end up in a container, mostly lined with a bag. After use, these are covered with litter or peat. Even with this camping toilet, the use of chemicals is completely avoided, as with all types of separating toilets. Unlike a dry toilet, a separating toilet has a separating insert. The principle works the same as with a dry toilet, with the difference that the urine and solids are separated by the insert into two different containers. The solid waste container is also lined with a bag here. By covering the solids with substrate, peat, or smaller wood such as very fine sawdust, the solids are dried and odor formation is prevented. The highest class of separating toilets is the composting toilet. This one has, like all separating toilets, a separating insert but additionally also a mixing mechanism. In our models, the separating insert is special because it features a separation flap. The design of the separating insert is especially an important issue for women, as it determines how easy the usage is. In conventional separating toilets, the insert is a simple divider; with an insert that has a separation flap, there is no need to aim when urinating, as all liquids are directed forward into the urine container. The separation flap built into the insert also serves as a privacy screen for the solid waste container. A composting toilet can potentially transform human excretions into compost or humus – although only a pre-composting process takes place directly in the toilet. This is also an important ecological aspect, as no waste remains, creating a closed cycle. This type of separating toilet does not need to be used with a compostable bag. Our Nature’s Head and OGO Origin, for example, feature a built-in mixing mechanism that blends the solids with the litter contained in the container, thereby immediately stopping odor formation. Depending on the model, this mixing mechanism can either be operated manually or started electronically at the push of a button. It is ensured that coconut fibers are always transported from the bottom of the container to the top and mixed in. The solid waste container of the separating toilets can hold varying volumes. In the Nature’s Head, the container can hold 26 liters, making it the composting toilet with the largest capacity. The OGO Origin has a solid waste container with a 13-liter capacity.

How does a separating toilet work?

A separating toilet works like the toilet you know from home. The only difference is that in separating toilets, no water is used for disposal. In a conventional separating toilet, the solid waste container is lined with a bag. During use, the urine is diverted and collected, and the solids also fall into the designated container, where they are then covered with litter, peat, or sawdust. Odor is prevented without chemicals. How many liters the urine tank can hold depends on the model of the camping toilet. The urine tank should have a capacity of at least 3 liters and a maximum of 10 liters, otherwise odor neutrality cannot be maintained. If you wish to use more than 10 liters, an external tank can be connected, which can hold several liters. The bags or the urine tank can simply be disposed of and emptied after multiple uses. Since separating toilets are often compact in size, they are also suitable for mobile applications or for use in a motorhome. They do not require electricity and do not have to be permanently connected. Thus, it is also possible to install them in the garden for a garden shed. With a composting toilet, the principle is almost the same; however, the solids can remain in the container for a longer period, as it usually has a larger volume and composts the contents. Furthermore, for example, our Nature’s Head and OGO Origin require an electrical connection because they have a ventilation system that dries the solids in the container. They are therefore also intended for multiple uses and can be used without bags. The solids are covered with litter when the mixing mechanism is activated. It is important that the litter is filled in before use. Additionally, because it must be connected to electricity, it is not suitable for portable applications in different locations and is rather intended for a motorhome or a permanent installation in the garden. Moreover, a composting toilet does not have as compact a size as other separating toilets and, depending on the model, requires more space.

Does a separating toilet stink?

No, due to the rapid drying, the covering with substrate, and the separation via the separating insert, no odor is produced. Urine in itself is odorless, unless specific foods such as asparagus or medications are consumed. Only when urine comes into contact with water does ammonia form, resulting in a distinctive, unpleasant odor. However, the container cannot hold an unlimited number of liters or uses and should be emptied at the latest after three days to ensure that no odor develops. In the case of solids, the development of odors and gases is halted by quickly covering them with substrate. By covering the solids with litter, drying takes place in the container. Since no chemicals are used, there is no chemical odor in the motorhome. If coconut fibers are used as the substrate, one may notice a slight smell of wood or forest floor in the motorhome or bathroom. It depends on the number of uses when the bag or container becomes full and needs to be disposed of or emptied. The camping toilet can then be easily cleaned from the outside with a vinegar-water mixture or a mixture of citric acid and water.

How do I clean a separating toilet?

The cleaning of a separating toilet or composting toilet is just as simple as using it. The urine container can be cleaned, but it does not necessarily have to be washed after every emptying. If you wish to clean the urine tank, you should never use plain water. The best cleaning solution is a vinegar mixture, with a ratio of 1 liter of vinegar to 10 liters of water. Alternatively, you can use diluted citric acid for cleaning the urine tanks. Here, be sure to use no more than 3 tablespoons of citric acid per liter of water. For cleaning, pour the diluted vinegar or citric acid solution into the container and let it sit for a short time. Be sure not to exceed the number of liters that the urine container can hold. Depending on the model, it can hold more or fewer liters. Afterwards, the urine container should be allowed to dry thoroughly so that no odor develops during use. If a bag is used in the solid waste container, it hardly needs to be cleaned at all, as all excretions are contained within the bag and disposed of with it. In a composting toilet, the excretions go directly into the substrate and thus directly into the container. This should be emptied approximately every 4–6 weeks, depending on the model, to prevent odors in the motorhome. Of course, this depends on the volume of the solid waste container and how many uses it is designed for. To empty it, you remove the container from the camping toilet and dispose of the substrate with the excretions in a garbage bag. The container does not need to be specially cleaned afterwards, as everything remaining in the toilet serves as a compost starter for the next fill. If you want to clean the camping toilet from the outside, diluted vinegar or citric acid is also suitable for this purpose. Simply spray a few splashes onto the exterior and wipe it dry with a cloth or toilet paper. The separating insert can also be cleaned in this way. The spray bottle can be purchased as an accessory.

How is a separating toilet disposed of?

Disposal of separating toilets is very simple since no chemicals are used. This means you are not dependent on disposal stations and are flexible in choosing a parking spot for your motorhome. The urine tank holds a certain number of liters, and once this capacity is reached, it must be emptied. The urine can be disposed of in a conventional toilet, in a forest under a tree where it will not disturb anyone, or simply poured into a storm drain. Additionally, if diluted, the urine can be used as a fertilizer for plants in the garden. However, care should be taken that these are non-edible plants. The solid waste container, which also holds a certain number of liters, can just as easily be emptied and disposed of. If you use a separating toilet with a bag, you can seal it after use and dispose of it with residual waste. It is also important to pay attention to the bag’s capacity in liters. This way, you remain flexible even when camping. Since people might be taking medications, excretions should not be disposed of in the organic waste bin or on a home compost heap if the resulting compost is to be used for edible plants. Disposal in a composting toilet without a bag is a bit more labor-intensive. With these separating toilets, the solid waste container is removed, its contents are transferred into a bag, and then disposed of with residual waste. If it is permanently installed in the motorhome or bolted to the floor, the screws must first be loosened.

Is it allowed to empty a separating toilet into a conventional toilet?

It depends on whether it is a dry toilet or a separating toilet and what you wish to dispose of in a conventional toilet. Since a dry toilet does not have a separating insert and therefore does not separate liquids from solids, you cannot dispose of its contents in a conventional toilet. After each use, litter is applied to bind odors and liquids. This substrate cannot be disposed of in a home toilet. If you have a separating toilet or a composting toilet with a separating insert, the urine is separated from the solids, and you can dispose of one component in a conventional toilet. The urine that has accumulated in the container can be easily emptied once the maximum fill level in liters is reached. This is only liquid without any added chemicals. The solid waste container must not be emptied into the toilet. It contains excretions, toilet paper, and substrate in large quantities. Emptying the container at home could clog the toilet. Furthermore, the substrate or coconut fibers are not suitable for sewage treatment plants. It is better to dispose of it with residual waste. If you are traveling in a motorhome, you can also dispose of the urine at a rest area using the public toilet.

How much does a separating toilet cost?

The price of a separating toilet is just as varied as the different models available for motorhomes, camping, or even for the garden. In addition, some models differ in terms of the number of uses or range. There are variants of the camping toilet made of wood, plastic, or stainless steel. You can also decide whether you want a mobile, compact separating toilet or prefer to have it permanently installed. If you opt for a simpler dry toilet, which has a somewhat compact form and is used with a bag, it comes at a lower price. More expensive are models with a mixing mechanism—in other words, a composting toilet, which represents the highest class of separating toilets. The common factor among all is that they operate without water or chemicals. Choosing a simple dry toilet without a separating insert and with a bag in the container starts at a price of approximately €65. A slightly better camping toilet with a separating insert, the so-called separating toilet, starts at around €150. If you want more comfort, a longer range, and more uses, the composting toilet is the best choice. Since these are usually permanently installed, such as our Nature’s Head, and offer more features, range, and comfort, the price for such separating toilets is somewhat higher. Here, prices start at around €1250, with the necessary accessories for use—namely the exhaust hose, fan, power cable, and spray bottle—included in the price. In terms of maintenance, the separating toilet is extremely cost-effective. With a bag system, only the bags are needed and must be purchased as accessories. In addition, all separating toilets require substrate, which is added to the solid waste container either before or after use. For a bag system, various materials can be used, such as coconut fibers, small animal litter, or wood-based substrate like sawdust. The more granular the substrate, the better its covering performance. It is important that with a composting toilet, the substrate not only absorbs the liquid but also releases the moisture in the correct measure so that the drying of the solids is optimally ensured. Therefore, for such higher-end models, often only a few substrates are suitable, and you should consult the respective manufacturer to see which is recommended.

Which garbage bags are suitable for a separating toilet?

Basically, in a separating toilet, you can use any bag that corresponds to the size of the container. You should pay attention to the liter capacity. If you take into account the ecological aspect inherent in a separating toilet, you should opt for compostable or biodegradable bags. For a compact and possibly mobile toilet, green organic waste bags are suitable; these often fit the container perfectly and are biodegradable. Depending on the manufacturer, these bags are often offered as accessories and can then be ordered directly from the dealer at a reasonable price. If you use a composting toilet that is equipped with a mixing mechanism, you do not need to insert an extra bag into the container nor purchase additional accessories.

Which litter should I use for the separating toilet?

For a normal compact dry toilet or separating toilet for a motorhome, almost any substrate that binds liquids can be used. For this camping toilet, peat, potting soil, wood-based litter such as sawdust, or even coconut fibers are suitable. It is important that the liquid is absorbed and that any odor that might develop is suppressed. Cat litter can theoretically also be used, but it tends to clump quickly and often has an unpleasant inherent odor. Therefore, we recommend avoiding cat litter. If you have a composting toilet, the choice of substrate used for the solid waste container is more important. This litter must have the property of absorbing liquids and suppressing odors, and it must also be able to release the liquid in the correct measure so that drying can take place in the camping toilet. Without this drying process, which is assisted by the connected fan, unpleasant odors can develop in the motorhome and the toilet will have a significantly shorter range, i.e. fewer uses. A substrate or litter that is well-suited for a composting toilet is coconut fibers. Coconut fibers are a natural product; they are a byproduct of rope manufacturing that is reused. They are easy to transport, store, and last a long time. They can be purchased as accessories online or at a hardware store. Should the coconut fibers begin to deteriorate during a trip, this is not a problem. Coconut fibers are available almost everywhere in the world where you can buy plants or garden supplies. When purchasing, you just need to ensure that they are undosed and natural. Alternatively, you could use peat for the composting toilet if no coconut fibers are available. The cost for these is very low, while the range and number of uses thanks to the drying principle are very high.

Where should the toilet paper go in a separating toilet?

Since a separating toilet (or dry separating toilet) functions like a regular home toilet, toilet paper can also be disposed of in separating toilets. This is particularly practical in a motorhome or while camping when, for example, there is little space for an extra trash can. However, one must consider that the capacity of the solid waste container—or, in the case of a dry toilet without a separating insert, the general container with a bag—fills up more quickly and therefore must be emptied and disposed of after fewer uses. Additionally, if you have a higher-end camping toilet, a composting toilet, you should ensure that the toilet paper is at most two-ply so that it can be shredded by the mixing mechanism. Here too, the solid waste container will fill up more quickly, and the mixing mechanism inside the container will be more difficult to turn. This minimizes the capacity for waste, and the solid waste container must be emptied sooner. If you use toilet paper with more than two plies, it can also happen that it wraps around the crank, and the mixing mechanism will not be able to shred and mix the toilet paper. As a result, new coconut fibers cannot be transported upward, and drying cannot occur as usual. Synthetic or wet toilet paper should also not be used, as it does not decompose or shred. Alternatively, toilet paper can be disposed of in a small lidded bucket in the motorhome or bathroom. This allows for a longer range and more uses with the separating toilet.

What are the advantages of a separating toilet?

Separating toilets are ideal for autonomous use in confined spaces, as they are usually portable and have a compact size. A permanent installation is not necessarily required for conventional separating toilets. Therefore, they are also suitable for use when camping in smaller vehicles or tents. Another advantage is that the excretions are easy and quick to dispose of thanks to the bag system. In addition, they are usually more affordable both in purchase and in maintenance than other systems, since nothing is needed for use apart from the bag and litter. No water or chemicals are used. A composting toilet offers additional advantages compared to a separating toilet. This camping toilet is intended for long-term use, is as comfortable as a conventional toilet, and has a higher capacity—that is, more uses before it needs to be emptied. They are predominantly designed for permanent installation and can therefore also be used in off-road situations. When properly installed, it functions under all circumstances, including during illness or in tropical climates. Since in this camping toilet the substrate or litter is already placed in the solid waste container before use, less manual labor is required. In this case, hand-adding more litter is unnecessary. Furthermore, no additional accessories such as litter or substrate need to be carried in the motorhome or when camping. As the name suggests, the solids are pre-composted and can later be recycled in an ecological manner once the container's volume is reached. The ongoing costs for this type of camping toilet are extremely low.

What are the disadvantages of a separating toilet?

A disadvantage of a conventional separating toilet is that it is usually only suitable for short-term use over a few days. Similarly, the odor neutrality of the camping toilet depends to some extent on external factors. Since the bag only has a certain capacity and remains odor-free, it can, for example, happen during illnesses or in tropical climates that the bag must be disposed of and replaced very frequently or even after every use. This can be a particular disadvantage when camping. Additionally, for a dry separating toilet, you always have to carry the substrate or litter as an accessory, since it has to be added by hand, which results in additional work. In a motorhome, you should factor in the extra space required. The composting toilet, which is the highest class of separating toilets, on the other hand, has the disadvantage that the purchase cost—that is, the price—is somewhat higher than that of conventional separating toilets. You must also note that this model, due to its construction, requires more space, which should be available in the motorhome. Although the emptying and disposal need to be performed much less frequently than with a conventional dry separating toilet, because the solid waste container has a higher volume and the drying performance is many times greater, the emptying process is also somewhat more labor-intensive and time-consuming compared to another conventional separating toilet with a bag.