I made myself a separating toilet out of 5 gal bucket, hardware store funnel, detergent bottle, compstable bags and snap on toilet seat with cover. Dont use my black tank anymore and I boondock full time.
Nobody has mentioned incinerating toilets. You can get units that run off propane and 12v power. I presume that if you are boondocking you are ensuring that you have power and plenty of propane. Propane goes a long way, and if you have a good solar setup, sufficient 12v power to light the burner and keep the control system on the toilet going should not be a problem. The benefits are little or no smell, and certainly none after the burn cycle is complete, and all you are left with is hygienically neutral ash, which can be thrown out in any trash. There is also no mess dealing with a bin of feces mixed with peat moss or wood shavings and no urine canister that you are having to dump. You do have to keep a supply of liners on hand that hold the contents of the bowl and guide it into the burn pot, but they aren't that expensive in bulk.
Nobody has actually mentioned this thread for 3 years either….
I would think it would be a pretty large propane usage 140 to 180g per incineration. propane is the harder thing to add depending what kind of unit you have. In a cabin type situation I would definatly take that over composting, but I wouldn't buy a composting anyways, but an incinerating toilet is over 5000.00 compared to 1500 for a composting or 2 to 400 for a nice portable toilet. personally unless there is a big reason not to have a black tank.. stay with that one its free and doesn't use power or propane.
If I ever decided to change from a tank system, which I won't for lots of reasons, I would go with a nice cassette toilet over a composting any day, probably not what you want to hear.
don't have to cut a hole in the camper for a fan. compost toilets do stink, but built in fans take the smell outside where you don't notice it but depending where you are camping your niebours might, also added power use for the fan. there is a good article on the three different setups I'll see if I can find it.
with a cassette you could just pull it out and put it down a outhouse if there is one instead of paying to dump along the road.
a compost you are emptying the urine every day, or it really gets ripe and you have to remember to either manually mix the compost or have a real expensive one that does it for you, oh and toilet paper shouldn't be put in it, that should be a garbage can beside the toiler to deposit your TO when your done wiping, no one talks about the gross things.
I've used a cassette a couple times on a rental...worst possible option:
- You either have to cut a hole in the side to slide it out or you have to carry it thru the RV.
- No need for a new hole with a composter anyway as you can repurpose the old holding tank vent.
But no, smell is a non-issue having lived with one for several years. Had he solar fan fail once and never noticed it.
Only emptied the urine every 2-3 days (less if using shore side facilities or trees). And just like a cassette which needs to be dumped every couple days, any shoreside toilet is a legitimate place to dump.
We don't put toilet paper down a traditional RV toilet either (we use real toilet paper that actually works not the RV specific stuff that your fingers go right thru). If you use the lousy RV TP, you can put it in a composting toilet without problem.
I still don't think it makes sense in an RV. With just a modest amount of effort, we can get a week out of the black tank. If really needed, we could probably double that.
I had one 30 years ago I used in my tent trailer, but ya you need to get a good quality one so it doesn't leak
you can only reuse the holding tank vent if it is in the right spot.
as for the toilet paper that's just gross. sorry I can't get behind that one
ya doesn't make sense in an rv to me either, and even in a cabin I would get a incinerating toilet over a composting any day. the black tank is the best setup, but if people are worried about paying for dumping stations or waiting in line, buy a macerating pump and then you can pump it in to outhouses or such
Composting Toilet Pros:
Simplicity
Empty solids after weeks vs every few days - so you stay off grid longer.
conserve water - so you stay off grid longer
Don't Smell unlike chemical toilets / black tanks.
Less gross to empty (really)
When you need to empty, you don't have to search or pay for a dump point (but choose your dumpster/bin respectfully of others.)
Note that you'll need a urine diverter - urine is most of the volume.
Composting Toilet Cons:
Some require power for a fan (best for long trips or full time use)
Cost - they're still niche and really agitators help, but boost the cost to make them.
Fly Strike - no matter how good your seals - it is possible to get flies.
If you're looking to boondock, an alternative to composting could be a sealing / bagging toilet, although look for one with a urine diverter, otherwise they're expensive to 'flush'.
