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Composting Toilet Guide

This document summarizes a composting/urine diversion (UD) toilet. The toilet has two chambers that collect and separate feces and urine. Dry organic materials like wood ash or straw are added to absorb moisture and help decompose the waste. Urine can be collected separately and used as fertilizer. Ventilation helps dry the waste. Proper moisture control and occasional turning of the compost is needed for the system to work well. Initial costs are $3,000-$4,000 but annual operating costs are low if maintained properly by the user. These toilets have been tested in South Africa with mixed results depending on user education and local conditions.

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gkumar77
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175 views1 page

Composting Toilet Guide

This document summarizes a composting/urine diversion (UD) toilet. The toilet has two chambers that collect and separate feces and urine. Dry organic materials like wood ash or straw are added to absorb moisture and help decompose the waste. Urine can be collected separately and used as fertilizer. Ventilation helps dry the waste. Proper moisture control and occasional turning of the compost is needed for the system to work well. Initial costs are $3,000-$4,000 but annual operating costs are low if maintained properly by the user. These toilets have been tested in South Africa with mixed results depending on user education and local conditions.

Uploaded by

gkumar77
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Composting/urine diversion (UD) toilet

Fly screen

Vent pipe

Air (ventilation)

Access cover

Seat cover

Urine diversion
Pedestal

Urine outlet pipe Turning and removal


to soakaway or of composted material
collection pot by hand
A single top-structure over a sealed container, which could be one of two chambers side by side (as for the VIDP), with
access for the removal of decomposed waste. A vent pipe may be installed to encourage drying of the waste.

Principles Operational and Costs Experience and


of operation institutional comment
requirements
Waste is deposited in the Does not accept domestic Capital (variable depending on Control of moisture content is
chamber and dry absorbent wastewater. Ensure ease of system and householder input): vital for proper operation.
organic material, such as wood access by householder and R3 000-R4 000 for commercial Contents often become too wet,
ash, straw or vegetable matter promotion of manual ‘turning’ of systems. making the vault difficult and
is added after each use to compost and removal of unhygienic to empty, as well as
deodorise decomposing faeces composted/desiccated material. Operating: R35-R500 per malodorous. UD systems in SA
and/or control moisture and Suitable disposal site/area annum, depending on local still being monitored but appear
facilitate biological breakdown necessary. government involvement and to be accepted by certain
(composting). Urine may be householder willingness to communities and working
separated/diverted through use handle waste, and disposal without significant problems.
of specially adapted pedestals. options. Burning of compost prior to
This may be collected and used removal also being tested in SA.
as a fertiliser. In desiccation Proprietary systems have been
systems, ventilation encourages piloted in SA, generally with
the evaporation of moisture. inconclusive results as to their
likely success on a large scale
and under varying conditions.
User educational requirements
and continuous input significant
for proper operation in terms of
the composting process.

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