Ask Torg - How to make a compost toilet

[4evervescence]

Thanks Torg! Love the used hair dryer for a vent! Innovative way to recycle a use hair dryer. :)

[BlueStrikeP]

oh that hairdrier bit is genious! I was wondering how to replicate those super expensive composting toilets. This is awesome, gonna try this out

[jamisonbrooks]

I am a eagle scout and we all was barred the poo in the dirt

[Jacquelyndegracia]

I have a dry toilet and use lime to dry up the feces. It works great and also kills odor. Almost like a kitty litter box. Where I live sawdust isn't available and a sack of lime from the hardware store is really cheap and lasts forever

[hillbillyshaman]

Any tips on where to find the saw dust?

[bigbruvofenglanduk]

@hillbillyshaman Pet supplies often have bags of sawdust. People use it for hamster cages, horse boxes etc.

If you want to get it free then a carpentry workshop. Most of them will let you take it away free just so they can get rid of it. If you can use a pick up truck you might able to get it poured in the back from a hopper but make sure you cover it up before you go. lol

Or you could use a large 1 ton rubble sack but again you will need a truck or van because of the size.

[nomoreremakes]

Why not on fruits and vegetables?

[MilesB1975]

@nomoreremakes I'm pretty sure it's to stop E.Coli bacteria infecting your food.

[1too3fore]

Just made it past 1 year of composting my waste and now separate liquids from solids. This cuts down on the amount of trips to the compost pile with the solids. I use pallets to form the bins. I get them for free along with free sawdust from a local wood workers club. I plan on using the compost after 4 years.

[Snurdgerbly]

I find that diet can make a difference. Some of my visitors need to use a lot more sawdust. Really.

[JuanLeggett]

Great stuff.

[westkan]

I have seen plans/photos of such systems that use black DWV pipe that acts as a solar chimney to draw oders outside, without using power.

[westkan]

I'm not sure I would even inquire if the toilet is permitted by the code, unless U can inquire in an anonymous manner, to avoid tipping UR hand that you R plannin something unconventional. Just make sure you operate it in a responsible manner, as U should code permitted or not.

[westkan]

Because Power outages means My well doesn't work I ordered a 'portable loo' years ago. A 7 g. bucket, with a seat & snug lid. Saw dust isn't readily available so I bougt a bag of pet rodent bedding. I just simply P outside or collect it in a jug, dump some H peroxide in the jug & empty the jug on the rock drive

[Gunnarsguns]

You can get a snap on toilet seat for a 5 gallon bucket from cabelas for about 10 bucks.....some people use peat which you can get in compressed bales instead of sawdust.Takin a crap aint rocket science and this is a very good vid on the subject

[2010mustang1]

you are evil you broke the zelda toilet!

[1too3fore]

throw some gypsum in there to bind the ammonia from the urine to eliminate the smell, there's a great 4 part youtube video on thermophyllic composting that covers the gypsum part. Been doing the bucket approach now for about 2 solid months. After pooping you can light a match to help with the odors, too.

[WoundedEgo]

Wow, that was clear, informative and inspiring. Kudos.

[marceltony]

good job ,good explanation,good idea ,good grief it cannot get any easier......better than paying $1200.for a composting toilet...rip -off. thanx

[suchandradasi]

Is there anything LIKE sawdust that can also be used? How many poops does it take to fill up a five gallon bucket?

[upturnedface]

Almost any carbon source can be used. Sawdust is one of the most popular. My composting toilet uses coffee hulls that we get from a local coffee roaster (otherwise they would be thrown away). Ash is also great. Straw, paper scraps, and many other dry carbon sources can be used.

Sawdust, as I understand, is just a byproduct of sawmills, so no wood is actually being used to create sawdust. But there are plenty of other options.

[suchandradasi]

Wow thank you so much! That is really helpful!

[1too3fore]

Try coffee grounds from the local coffee shop.

[suchandradasi]

Thanks, I will check into that! That sounds Great. I heard that if you are smelling perfumes, in between it's good to sniff coffee because it cleans your sense of smell.

[VedicHawaii]

How fast does it take to fill up?

[deannausernametaken]

The thing I worry about is the sawdust. I am not sure how much wood it would take to produce the amount of sawdust needed, and while I'm sure it's more economical than than the amount of water, wood is still a big expense to desert countries.

[utubedaveg]

I have converted my shop and my home to sawdust toilets. After doing this I feel guilty using any other kind. we even take a bucket with a special lid bought at Cabella's called a lugable lou when we go tenting. Much better than the out house or spotapots at campsites. The secret to this is the sawdust, cover all excrement and urine every time. We have not had a oder or fly problem. Do not just use this as mulch though. It must be composted, check out Humanure handbook.

[VideoGuyNC]

The idea of a composting toilet is growing on me as I become more environmentally aware. My biggest concern is; doesn't such indoor system attract flies in warm/humid areas?