Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- cptt:compost_toilets [2025/12/04 15:10] – Dave Darby
+++ cptt:compost_toilets [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Compost toilets
+This topic is part of [[gt:water|Water & sewage]].
+====== Compost toilets ======
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-## What are compost toilets?
+===== What are compost toilets? =====
-Compost toilets are dry or waterless toilets, i.e. they don't use water to take the waste somewhere else. They allow natural processes to produce useful [compost](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/composting), after a resting period depending on the type of toilet.
+Compost toilets are dry or waterless toilets, i.e. they don't use water to take the waste somewhere else. They allow natural processes to produce useful [compost](/cpst/composting), after a resting period depending on the type of toilet.
 **DIY compost loos**
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 <caption>
-Compost loos don’t have to be outdoors; if done properly, there will be no smells, and an indoor toilet will be more convenient in the winter.
+_Compost loos don’t have to be outdoors; if done properly, there will be no smells, and an indoor toilet will be more convenient in the winter._
 </caption>
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 <caption>
-Henry Moule’s earth closet almost became the standard Western toilet in the 19th century.
+_Henry Moule’s earth closet almost became the standard Western toilet in the 19th century._
 </caption>
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 <caption>
-Cross-section of one chamber of a basic indoor compost toilet.
+_Cross-section of one chamber of a basic indoor compost toilet._
 </caption>
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 <caption>
-The Separett toilet is small enough to be used in a camper van or on a boat.
+_The Separett toilet is small enough to be used in a camper van or on a boat._
 </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of compost toilets?
+===== What are the benefits of compost toilets? =====
 **Main benefits**
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 - Saves water – you don’t have to use one resource (pure drinking water) to flush away another (fertiliser).
-- Organic matter is allowed to go back to the [soil](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/soil/) where it belongs, improving soil structure and nutrition.
+- Organic matter is allowed to go back to the [soil](/soil/soil) where it belongs, improving soil structure and nutrition.
 <WRAP center centeralign>
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 <caption>
-[Waterless urinal](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/waterless-urinals/) with a HepvO valve - the simplest way to convert a conventional urinal to a waterless one.
+_[Waterless urinal](/watr/water) with a HepvO valve - the simplest way to convert a conventional urinal to a waterless one._
 </caption>
@@ Line 111: / Line 110: @@
 **Other benefits**
-- No chemical [cleaners](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/natural-cleaning) or bleaches are used in the toilet.
+- No chemical [cleaners](/ntcl/natural_cleaning) or bleaches are used in the toilet.
 - They don’t contribute to the sewage sludge that is often dumped in landfill, or more controversially, put on to agricultural land uncomposted.
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-## What can I do?
+===== What can I do? =====
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 <caption>
-Emptying one of the chambers.
+_Emptying one of the chambers._
 </caption>
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 <caption>
-Keep a bucket of ‘soak’ next to the toilet, to throw in after every use. This can be straw, sawdust, woodchips etc.
+_Keep a bucket of ‘soak’ next to the toilet, to throw in after every use. This can be straw, sawdust, woodchips etc._
 </caption>
@@ Line 194: / Line 193: @@
 </WRAP>
-[Waterless urinals](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/waterless-urinals/) work well with compost toilets, as urine can be used as a completely-pathogen-free fertiliser, and it stops the compost toilet from becoming too wet. Waterless urinals can be adapted for female use too. Some compost toilets are designed to separate urine from solids.
+[Waterless urinals](/watr/water) work well with compost toilets, as urine can be used as a completely-pathogen-free fertiliser, and it stops the compost toilet from becoming too wet. Waterless urinals can be adapted for female use too. Some compost toilets are designed to separate urine from solids.
 If your toilet is going to be used by people unfamiliar with compost loos, you might want to put up a [notice explaining how to use it](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/Instructions-for-centre-compo-loo.pdf).
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 <caption>
-Funky outdoor compost loo at a summer party.
+_Funky outdoor compost loo at a summer party._
 </caption>
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-## Further resources
+===== Forum =====
-- [free online course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/compost-toilets-course/) on how to build, install and use a compost toilet system. The tutor is Cordelia Rowlatt of [Vallis Veg](http://vallisveg.co.uk/).
+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:water|Water & sewage]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/water).
+===== Further resources =====
+- [free online course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/compost-toilets-course/) on how to build, install and use a compost toilet system. The tutor is Cordelia Rowlatt of [Vallis Veg](http://vallisveg.co.uk/).
+- [Humanure Handbook](https://humanurehandbook.com/) - 	humanure headquarters - including Jenkins' Humanure Handbook free online
+- [New Scientist](https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3512-composting-toilets-key-to-global-sanitation-say-scientists/) - composting toilets key to global sanitation, say scientists
+- [Build your own compost toilet](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/Build-Waterless-Compost-Toilet.pdf) - booklet to accompany an Australian one-day course
+- [Greywater Action](https://greywateraction.org/) - greywater systems and compost loos
+- [Survival of Fecal Coliforms in Dry-Composting Toilets](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC93126/)
+- [Earth & Orchard toilet plans](https://oasisdesign.net/compostingtoilets/earthtoilet/)
+- [Compost toilets on boats](https://boatingmag.com/choosing-composting-marine-toilet/)
+- [Henry Moule's earth closet](https://www.jldr.com/henrymoule.htm)
-## Specialist(s)
-![patrick-boylan](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/patrick-boylan.jpg)
-Patrick Boylan has had a long-term interest in the environment. A graduate of the Trinity College Dublin Botany Department in 1998, he founded [Toilet Revolution](http://www.toiletrevolution.com) in 2012. Patrick has researched manufacturers the world over, and Toilet Revolution have hundreds of composting toilet installations around the UK and Ireland.
-![](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/cordelia100.jpg)
-Cordelia Rowlatt of [Vallis Veg](http://vallisveg.co.uk) lives off-grid on a small piece of land. She has built and used many compost toilets for different situations, as well as lived toilet free when travelling with a gypsy circus - lesson learned: never take your toilet for granted! She also uses processed urine and faeces to feed crops safely. She's our [online course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/compost-toilets-course/) tutor
+===== Related topics =====
+- [Low-impact sewage treatment](sewg:sewage)
+- [Composting](cpst:composting)
+- [Biogas](biog:biogas)
+- [Willow sewage treatment](wsew:willow_sewage_treatment)
+- [Waterless urinals](wlur:waterless_urinals)
+- [Septic tanks & drainage fields](sept:septic_tanks)
+- [Reed beds](reed:reed_beds)
+- [Narrowboats](nrbo:narrowboats)
+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====