Composting toilet - pros and cons
Considering changing to a composting toilet (we boondock about 70% of the time). I would like to hear the pros and cons from those that either have one or have done some research.
Forum Discussion
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
Any toilet that leaks is bad news...no reason to expect a composting toilet to leak. In fact, something has to be horribly wrong, there really isn't a way for it to leak. While we only used them a few times, draining the cassette toilet was the most objectionable of the 3 options.
The holding tank is usually under the toilet, so the vent is typically close by. You are going to have to do some plumbing anyway to remove/seal off the black tank, so finding and connecting to it shouldn't be a big problem. Worst case, just put a computer fan that draws next to nothing and pump it under the rig (there is negligible odor coming out...the whole point is to provide oxygen so the odiferous anerobic bacteria can't survive).
I guess we've spent enough time in 3rd world countries where it's normal to put TP in a can by the toilet. But regardless, you can put TP in any of the 3 options...it's just that it may eventually clog or mess up the valves on a traditional system. So long as it's not excessive, it won't harm a composting toilet, just you may see some remnants if you don't give it a few weeks to compost. Excessive isn't going to be good with a cassette toilet of course either.
In a cabin, it's a world of difference as space/weight is generally not an issue. You can put in a large bin that can hold months of solids and let if fully break down during periods , you aren't using the cabin. Also depending on where you are and how much you are sticking to the letter of the law, there are simple options to deal with the liquids that won't cause any harm. Or just put in a large tank with a transfer pump and a second tank in your pickup to take it to a dump station every couple months. Compared to the cost/complication of putting in a proper septic system, it could be a very nice, much simpler and cheaper option.
