All this about composting toilets! I know its a personal choice, but everytime i hear someone mention one, i cant help but think of a kitty litter box! And for us, solar is just too darn expensive, and takes WAY too long to get your investment basck, too much extra stuff to worry about, hook up, etc...etc... Rving should be pleasurable, not having to empty your cat/ human litter box, and worry about sun, batteries, amps, etc..etc... I like being able to flush the toilet, and cranking up the generator when i need to! I watch some you tube videos and laugh at all these snowflakes out in the world that are too delicate to empty a holding tank, but perfectly fine with using a litter box for a month? UGH..... Ok...rant over

I guess it's just a personal choice. I've read on the forum that some put their used toilet paper in a trash can rather than put it in the black tank. I think that's gross but, each to their own.Maybe some like composting toilets because they can boondock longer?The payback on a solar system? (I don't have one) I don't think people do it just to save money. If they were that concerned about payback, they probably wouldn't own a RV and instead invest the money where they will make a profit.Probably the tent campers can't understand why RVers have large, expensive, fuel sucking machines that pollute the air?They wonder why we are not enjoying nature, sleeping on the ground and hiking rather than using golf carts, scooters, etc..However, even if I had a solar system, I would still have a generator.They come in handy, even if you're not RVing.And tent camping is in my rear view mirror.It's all about choice. :)

Something else comes to mind... If a black tank ruptures, they consider the contents as hazardous waste and a bio hazard.... But its perfectly ok to throw your waste / feces away in a plastic bag because it is mixed with sawdust or coconut husks? I believe that would pose a hazard to the poor soul that has to empty that waste bin.... And the same should go for disposable diapers if you want to get perfectly honest

Humans are animals. What do you expect? :B

Have you ever even used one? They are nothing like a kitty litter box. I've been in multiple facilities (rest areas mostly) that use them. There's no odor and you use them just like a regular toilet. You claim it's personal choice and as such it's not subject to anyone's criticism, including your comments about "snowflakes". I wonder how many of you that agree ran from changing a diaper! As you also state RVing should be "pleasurable" and some aren't comfortable with the black tank aspect. It doesn't make them a "snowflake"-it makes them "different". Why not try to be supportive of something new instead of critical?

I spent about $1k on another solar panel and batteries over the winter and I believe I'll get it back in reduced camping fees. Already, we spent 3 days at a no hookup national park for $45 (geezer pass). That's less than one night at a typical private park.We're planning a 3 month trip out west next spring. Being able to stay a night or 2 off-grid should save us some money.I'm with you on the litter box. What do you do with the contents? Just throw it away in the trash? How do the snowflakes justify that?

I just cant understand... | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Dec 12, 2017
7.3 psdman wrote:
I thought that the composting toilets and solar chargers were part of the survivalist mindset. If you have to suddenly live off grid, without any utilities. I believe in being ready for emergencies but I don't go crazy with it like some of these survivalists do. A lot can be learned from how our great grandparents lived.
If forced to live off-grid my composting toilet will be a hole in the ground. Might even build a small seat and shelter around it for convenience and privacy just as the great-greats did.

As for solar I prefer it over a generator even if off-grid by choice.
ReneeG
Explorer
Dec 12, 2017
They must've been disposable bags because we rake out our pit before we leave and there was nothing in there but ashes.
clikrf8
Explorer
Dec 11, 2017
ReneeG wrote:
Wow . . . what a great multi topic thread and it all began with an opinion on composting toilets. I'm assuming then that some RV's have composting toilets? Hmmm, not for me, but then again we are of the mindset that the "tinkle" paper goes in the waste can and it gets burned later in fire pit. On our last camping trip, to a remote site with no waste disposal, I had the dogs' waste bags set aside to haul back down the mountain. DH grabbed them and threw them in the fire! I was aghast! He looked at me and said, "what do you think an incinerator toilet does?!", well, he was right. Hmmm.

That trip I mentioned was in our Jeep to remote mountain top campgrounds, something that is a bucket list of ours, and not places where we can take our FW. On the first trip, we knew right away why we have an RV - it's easier and much more posh! Tenting is A LOT of work. Second trip out, we're beginning to enjoy it, but hubby says at the end of the day, "next trip will be in the fifth wheel". That said it all. We completely understand the large RV concept and love it, but we still like the adventure of a backroad trip with the tent.

We too have solar panels on our RV, enough to run computers and TVs as we want. DH is a programmer and often works on the road. Yes, we didn't do it as a way to save money, but more as a way to be more independent. We've always boondocked, but on our first cross country trip with the solar system, we opted to stay in dry sites only at FS CGs that offered both, which saved us money and often had better views (and more secluded) than the sites with electricity. I was apprehensive at first, but am now sold on solar power. We still have a generator because you never know and since ours is a Honda, it's quiet too.

Back to the original OP's comment on composting toilets - well, if that's what others prefer, I say go for it, but it would not be for me either.

It’s not the poop, it’s the plastic bags. Plastic should never be burned in a fire pit. It pollutes, it makes a mess for the ranger or camp host and it is unsightly.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Sep 03, 2017
Hi 7.3,

For me, solar was about extended boondocking without a generator. It was also about keeping the batteries fully charged when in storage. As a side benefit the battery bank has a much improved lifespan.

7.3 psdman wrote:
I thought that the composting toilets and solar chargers were part of the survivalist mindset.
7_3_psdman
Explorer
Sep 03, 2017
I thought that the composting toilets and solar chargers were part of the survivalist mindset. If you have to suddenly live off grid, without any utilities. I believe in being ready for emergencies but I don't go crazy with it like some of these survivalists do. A lot can be learned from how our great grandparents lived.
georgelesley
Explorer
Sep 03, 2017
My question to those that object to waste paper in trash is what should be done with disposable diapers both child and senior adults like my 95 yr old MIL uses. If not the trash, where? We use a specially designed container for hers and, yes, the bag goes into the dumpster when full along with disposable diapers, used syringes, feminine products, old bandages, used rubber gloves, etc, etc. it is, after all, trash.

We are open to other workable suggestions that would work while she travels with us in the RV.
slickest1
Explorer
Sep 03, 2017
soren wrote:
Dutchman, A good buddy of mine was stationed out in the boonies in Vietnam, and was quite the favorite of the officers in his little compound, mostly due to his less than acceptable attitude. He often was rewarded by being assigned latrine duty. One day he decided to speed things up by switching from Jet fuel (Kerosene) to AvGas (high octane gasoline) He splashes some in each barrel, and decides that a 10-12' long pole with a flaming rag, would make the task perfectly safe. As he touches the first pan, it blows and throws him backwards about fifteen feet. He lands awake and face up, no real injuries actually. He opens his eyes to the feeling of rain, and then watches as a large cloud of poop and poop paper, returning from the heavens, covers him. As you might imagine, he decided that there was no real time savings in switching to Avgas, and the rain didn't taste too good either.

I don't know anything about composting toilets, but that story had me laughing to tears.
snowcrustracer
Explorer
Aug 26, 2017
Be very careful of putting that Sewer Plant compost all over your yard. Most of that stuff is loaded with dangerous industrial waste, heavy metals and other such nasty things.

I have no opinion on composting toilets never used one but could see how it could help if you are out in the wilds for a long time.
JeremyFr
Explorer
Aug 23, 2017
Here where I live (Tacoma WA Area) the city of Tacoma makes a product called "TAGRO" it's top soil that is made using recycled and sanitized "waste" I'll tell you what, it stinks to high hell for the first couple of weeks after laying it down, but everything grows like crazy in it. I'm actually surprised more cities have not done this. What's even better is that you can get it from the city for free and it runs out fast (no pun intended), you can even get a dumptruck load of it delivered for a nominal fee if you choose.
FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Aug 22, 2017
jjjandrbaker wrote:
Crowe wrote:
Why not try to be supportive of something new instead of critical?

i agree!

X like a million here LOL

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