You can call me toll free from anywhere in North America at 1 888 361 0014. I personally answer the phone, and will answer any questions you have. If I can’t pick up the phone, I’ll call you back as soon as I can. You will never hear “we are experiencing higher than normal call volumes….”. Nor will you get a lengthy list of menu options you don’t need. Those things drive me nuts!
Or send an email to: richard(at symbol)compostingtoiletscanada(dot)ca 
we plan to use this for our off grid Airbnb. How many uses can i expect before i need to change out the compost bag?
The Thinktank toilet holds about 50 solid uses. However, in an Airbnb you will need to empty any self contained composting toilet, waterless toilet, cassette toilet etc. after every guest. The solid waste is contained inside the toilet, and potentially visible to the next guest. This would be unacceptable to many people (including me, if I was a guest). Fortunately with the Thinktank this is an easy, 5 minute job.
How is this unit wired? No information on rough in for electrical. Is it plug and play or hardwired? Where does the wire come out of the back? Height of electrical junction box or receptacle?
I may order one of these units. I am roughing in electrical and then may walls are getting spray foam. Can you clarify a best practice set up for the electrical component of this?
Thank you,
Brian
The toilet can just plug into a standard wall outlet. The cord is about 3′ long. There is also a second cord for 12 volt connections, like a battery. It just plugs into the back of the toilet, about 8″ high.
I have your Thinktank on the way and am sorting out my installation. I am replacing an Envirolet that uses a stack on the left side of the unit ( left side when facing the front of the toilet). Your video seems to show the out port on the right side. Can the fan be moved over to switch in and out?
Yes, you can switch sides for the intake and exhaust.
Richard was a great help when the toilet seat on my composting toilet kept sliding off the plastic dowel.
I explained the problem and my replacement toilet seat was in the mail and in my hand within two weeks of when the toilet seat broke.
Richard rocks!!!
Hello, just wanted to say absolutely love your product. Great work on the site, videos and customer service. Never thought I’d be so excited to purchase my next toilet!
Where can I buy the biodegradable bags for toilet?
Canadian Tire, Walmart, Amazon, etc. Get a tall size – about 8 gallons.
What is the availability of more bags? When you defecate, you also urinate. So, I assume, you don’t open the gate until the urine has run off.
The Thinktank toilet uses generic widely available bags. They are very inexpensive. Canadian Tire is a good source. When sitting on the toilet, most of the urine will flow into the forward funnel regardless of whether the trap door s open or closed. So no one needs to worry about it.
Hi Richard,
I’m thinking of purchasing The Thinktank toilet and was wondering if there is an instructions poster that can be placed on the wall near the toilet so I don’t have to educate every guest on how to use the toilet.
Thanks,
Julie
Yes, the last page of the manual is an instruction sheet for users that can be posted on the wall by the toilet. They say:
INSTRUCTIONS
This is a Thinktank Waterless Toilet.
The trap door handle is on the right when you sit on the toilet.
The trap door stays CLOSED at all times, unless going number two.
If going number one, just use the toilet normally.
If going number two, sit on the seat and open the trap door.
Toilet paper goes into the toilet.
Close the trap door when finished.
Close the lid.
Hi,
Can a Thinktank be installed and used all year in a none heated space like an outhouse? We live in Quebec. The urine would be piped straight down into a leach field hole. We could spray lukewarm water/vinegar after each use. We have 120v in the outhouse.
Yes, that is perfect. Cold weather is not a problem.
Can a bidet toilet seat work with this 🤔
The Thinktank won’t work with a bidet toilet seat, but it will work with a portable, hand held bidet sprayer. It is actually the only waterless urine diverting toilet that will work with a portable bidet sprayer, because when the trap door is closed, all liquid is funneled into the urine drain system.
Hi –
Seems like a great product.
Was wondering about two things please:
(a) the solids trap door will prevent urine getting into the solids but from the pics seems as if urine stopped by the trap door would pool lhere unless cleaned out manually – is this the case?
(b) can a 12 volt battery be used to power the fans, or what if the recommended ‘fan time’ upon using the toilet? Can this toilet be used off-grid or does it require a lot of ongoing air movement over several hours to ensure drying and good composting results?
Thanks very much – Rob
a) The urine will quickly drain away. The closed trap door funnels it into the urine drain system.
b) They are 12 volt fans that can run off either a 12 volt battery, or a wall outlet with the supplied transformer. The fan is on 24/7.
The waste shrinks, but does not compost or dry out inside the toilet.
Hello,
Do you have photos or a further description as to how the urine funnels from the trap door into the drain system?
The trap door has high walls around its perimeter, preventing overflow when liquid is poured on to it. It has a downward slope, so any liquid that falls on the trap door drains forward into a secondary urine catchment area. This is turn drains to the urine drain. It an excellent, patented system no other toilet has.
Hi Richard. We spend half the year in our cottage in New Brunswick (other half Panama). There is just the two of us. Currently we have a holding tank which has to be emptied 3 times, even with an RV toilet. Now up over $1,200 for our 6 month stay. So the Think Tank makes a lot of sense and now high on my list. To further evaluate would it be possible to get a copy of the installation manual. And a picture of the bottom of the unit. I would remove our old toilet and wondered if there was space to leave the old flange. Also estimate time for emptying with 2 people. Reading that toilet paper takes a lot of space
Michael Roop
I have attached the manual to an email I sent you. There are detailed drawings. The base is flat, and there is no room for an existing toilet flange. An easy option is placing plywood on the floor, with a cut out for the flange, then installing the toilet on that. If you do that, make sure the plywood extends out far enough to place your feet, as you don’t really want to elevate the toilet seat above the existing 19 inches of height. Option 2 is remove the flange. I’m not sure if that is possible in your situation.
It holds about 50 poops. My wife and I empty about every 3 weeks. If you put the toilet paper somewhere else you might get another week, but it hardly seems worth it to me. I would just put the paper in the toilet.
Let me know if you have further questions.
Hi Richard,
Hello. We are living off grid and we function off a generator that does not supply continuous electricity (we have an electrical panel that supplies 110volt like a house). Our question is does the fan need to be on at all times or only after use.
Thank you
Marc
The fan needs to run continuously. If you are leaving for more than a few days you can empty the toilet (it just takes 5 minutes) and unplug the fan. However, the fan only uses about 3 watts, so it’s not going to take much power. You can also use a deep cycle 12 volt battery.
Hello. We are building a bunkhouse/workout space and plan to install a composting toilet.
We already have an outhouse with 20 L pails X 2; number one goes on the compost pile, number two gets composted separately and goes on non-edibles after 12 months. This is not terribly popular due to….well you can imagine. Once we get the toilet in the bunkhouse, the outhouse will be retired.
We prefer not to use the biodegradable bags because I am not 100% convinced they work as advertised. I assume if you are careful and not too squeamish you can forego these bags? Also we prefer not to lose the urine for the compost pile. Is it easy to divert into a pail to dispose of separately? I was thinking of running the urine tubing into a 20 L pail with a lid to keep the smell down until it’s emptied.
Finally, where is the product manufactured?
Thanks for you time!
The bags will definitely break down, but it can take a long time. I get impatient, and simply screen out the bag fragments from the compost when the compost is otherwise ready for use. You don’t have to use a bag, but that would be gross (very gross) and much worse than removing compostable bag fragments from finished compost, in my opinion. With the bag it’s fast, easy and clean, and you have very little exposure to waste. Personally I put a few scoops of pellets down the hatch before emptying the toilet. This reduces visual exposure to poop to almost zero.
The urine drain is at the back, 7″ high. You can certainly run that to a tank, as long as you have downward slope. Not a pail, because pee will stink. A tank with a small opening just big enough for the hose should be fine. A plastic gas can (never used for gas of course) would be a good choice.
The Thinktank is manufactured in Canada, near Victoria BC.
We are located in Hope BC and are planning a new home build.
So much different information out there, hoping you can narrow it down.
Is it feasible to use a composting system (no sewer, all septic in area) in a new build under BC building code?
Do you supply/install or could recommend someone?
We had a traditional septic system designed, costs in the $25,000 range which we are trying to avoid, along with being eco friendly.
Any light you can shed on the subject greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Wade & Christina
Yes, it’s very possible to build in BC under the building code. The government has published very specific details on how to accomplish this. You will need to hire a ROWP, which is a registered wastewater professional. They will develop a waste management plan, that meets all guidelines and codes. The BC guidelines are here.
I don’t have a list of ROWPs, but here is the BC government page on the topic.
The Thinktank waterless toilet will easily fit within these guidelines and is ideal. Resist unusual ideas such as rolling garbage cans under the floor, with a toilet pedestal above (horrifying to empty and they will NEVER compost the waste), or simple sawdust toilets – which are messy and sometimes stinky in my experience.
Hello Richard. I live in Saskatchewan so often endure bitterly cold stretches in the winter. With regard to the Thinktank, will the very cold temperatures create a problem with the incoming cold and outgoing air, ie: freezing, condensation? If so what measures can I take to counteract those issues? Thankyou
The Thinktank toiletwas designed specifically with these things in mind. It was tested in Winnipeg Manitoba, at -39 degrees, and worked extremely well.
Condensation is a big problem with other toilets, because they draw warm ventilation air in to the toilet from the bathroom. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. When the warm air in the vent pipe hits cold air outside the home, it condenses INSIDE the pipe, and either freezes or drips back down into the toilet. This can cause problems.
The air used by the Thinktank on the other hand comes from outside. It circulates in the toilet, then exhausts outside. So there is no temperature differential and condensation does not occur inside the pipe.
A small amount of condensation is possible on the OUTSIDE of the pipes that are in a heated bathroom. This is a much smaller problem, and can easily be mostly reduced or eliminated with pipe insulation.
When using the Thinktank in extremely cold weather, you use the supplied comfort-damper valve to temporarily stop airflow. Then when you are finished using it you open the damper valve. So there is never cold air moving through the toilet when using it.
It has all been thought through very thoroughly and it is ideal for Saskatchewan.
Can the think tank fans be run with solar?
Solar charges a battery and the battery powers the Thinktank fan, or any other device. The solar panel doesn’t run anything. It just charges a battery.
Good morning I am wondering if you could give me some advise or recommendations on composting toilets. We are looking to add several toilets around our golf course and around our marina. My concern is with the volume that would be produced and is there a big enough commercial system out there to handle these loads? We are located in Tobiano just outside of Kamloops B.C. Thanks for any input you can provide.
For commercial systems I recommend Toilet Tech.
We are interested in getting the think tank for our tiny home but aren’t sure about the waste removal. Most composting toilets use peat moss or coconut coir but this one doesn’t? Why is that? wouldn’t the waste not break down as well?
“Composting toilet” is the word we all use to describe these toilets, but there are very few toilets that actually turn human waste into compost. There are a few older models that attempt it, but they are very large, expensive, and often don’t work anyway. So what we have now are two basic types of toilet. The first are toilets that begin the composting process inside the toilet itself, usually with an agitating mechanism and the addition of organic material like coco coir or peat moss. However, it takes a long time for the waste to fully break down – up to a year or even more in cold climates), so when you empty the toilet you are removing partially composted waste only. The removed waste must be placed in a compost bin outside for 6-12 months (or thrown away).
The second type of toilet is a urine diverting waterless toilet like the Thinktank. Nothing is added. The waste shrinks, but does not begin turning into compost. You can add organic material, but this is unnecessary. Personally I dump a few scoops of wood pellets down the hatch to bury the contents before emptying, but that is not required. It is easier to empty this type of toilet, because you just put the lid on the internal container and remove it. There is nothing to clean, no peat moss to add. The waste should be placed in a compost bin outside for 6-12 months. Climate can affect this. It’s also possible to throw it out.
My preference in a tiny home is for the urine diverting waterless toilet like the Thinktank. However, in a boat or RV the smaller peat moss toilets can make sense.
Richard, you say you just put the lid on the container and remove it.Does this suggest that the Think Tank bucket comes with a lid?…I don’t see it in the pictures…also, can you use the system without the compostable bags? …I see you don’t sell the bags?
Yes there is a lid. No, you need compostable bags. I don’t sell the bags. They are commonly available.
Hello,
I am looking to purchase a Separette Mini to install on a sailboat and I have a few questions:
1. Is this toilet a good option for a sailboat?
2. Is it possible to get dimensions of the base of the toilet?
Thank you.
Edmaro
I believe you mean the Separett Tiny. Yes, it’s a good toilet for a boat. It was designed for boats and RVs. I have not used one on a boat, but feedback has been positive. Be careful with the exhaust. People tend not to think about it. There may be a little odor in the close vicinity of the exhaust pipe. Because of the odd shape, it’s hard to give you dimensions. Roughly 40cm wide by 50cm long. If you do a Google image search for the toilet you will see many drawings that should help.
Hello
I am looking for a composting toilet for our sailboat. No outside venting, electrical 12 volt. Any suggestions
Thank you
Sophia
With no outside venting there is usually odor. There is very stinky air inside a toilet and it has to go somewhere. Very basic toilets without fans or vents will require you to use a large amount of organic material after every poop (such as sawdust) to bury the waste (and hope it doesn’t stink – but it will). This is messy, requires storage of sawdust on your boat, and drastically reduces capacity of the toilet.
Bottom line – you need a vent to the outside of the boat and a fan.
Among the very small toilets there is the Separett Tiny and the Nature’s Head. I sell the Tiny and the Nature’s Head is available from gowithnature.ca. (Go With Nature is a great company with amazing customer service. They are the only dealer of the Nature’s Head that I recommend).
If you have a larger boat you have more options, including the Thinktank Waterless Toilet.
Is the urine basin extension available? Home Depot has it come with theirs. Also, I’ve really had my heart set on the Separette, but I ‘m concerned about heat loss through the fan during Nova Scotia winters? Is it that bad? Can I regulate the fan use during or between uses to help reduce heat loss? A towel uder the closed bathroom door? Any other ideas? Thanks
The toilet has a urine diverter built in. You don’t need to buy anything else.
Yes, heat loss through the Separett can be significant. It’s about 20 cubic feet a minute! The solution is the Thinktank Waterless Toilet which is the exact same concept except airtight, with an air intake and exhaust. There are numerous other advantages as well, including that men can stand (whereas they really need to sit with the Separett).
Thinktank Toilet
I recently installed a Separat 9210 toilet. I have questions.
1/ It says in the manual that it only connects to 110v but it came with alligator clips for 12 volt battery. How do I switch this to the power supply to 12v.?
2/ I am also running venting for my sinks and tub can they be vented through roof through same vent as compost toilet?
3/ Can you reduce or enlarge the pipe to match up to vent?
4/ Is there a whirliebird unit that fits on top of roof that also moves the odors and aids drying of waste?
1) There are two sets of wires in the box. One is for 12 volts, and the other for a wall outlet. They plug into the fan housing inside the toilet.
2) No.
3) No.
4) This is not necessary if you have power. If there is no power, it can help. But it won’t work if it isn’t windy.
Looking to place a composable toilet in a tiny home to be used 12 months per year in southwestern Ontario. Is there any additional costs, procedures, etc to using the toilets in cold weather? You noted air intake is drawn from outside.
The Thinktank would be ideal. It was designed in Canada for this purpose exactly. The Thinktank has a damper valve to control airflow in extremely cold weather. You basically shut off airflow when sitting on the toilet in cold weather. You might wrap the pipes with insulation to prevent condensation on the outside of the pipe. The urine drain line should also be insulated. You can call or email me directly if you have further questions.
Am I correct that the only toilet you sell that men can pee standing up is the think tank?
The Thinktank is the only urine diverting toilet that allows men to stand. With all other urine diverting toilets men must dit or aim very carefully for the front of the bowl. With the Thinktank men do not have to aim or sit. It is a unique, patented system.
We are thinking of the Separette for our cottage in ON and now the Thinktank came on our radar. Power outages are a bit of an issue where we are so we like that the Separette can be AC/DC and includes the alligator clips. Is this a possibility with the Thinktank?
Also, in terms of included parts, does the Thinktank similarity come with 2 lidded buckets, vent pipe, any couplings etc?
Thanks very much, Beata
The Thinktank also is AC/DC and comes with a second set of 12 wires for this purpose. The ends of the wires are bare, but you can attach alligator clips if you like. The alligator clips are inexpensive.
The Thinktank comes with all needed couplings and pipe for a basic installation, like the Separett. You might need a minor purchase at a hardware store with either toilet, depending on your installation.
The Thinktank comes with one lidded bucket. A second could be shipped for the cost of postage, but really few people use the two bucket system anymore – where waste was left to sit in one bucket while using the second. That doesn’t work well. It’s much easier to just dump the contents of the bucket (waste contained within a compostable bag) into the compost bin outside, and use the same bucket again.
Thinking of getting this 9210 for my tiny house being built by Minimalist Mark. I am not sure about just draining the urine into the ground in a subdivision. I thought the urine went into a large bottle like container. Is that an option?
The urine bottle system is fine for a boat or RV, but it gets tiresome taking the bottle out and dumping it somewhere every 2 days or so. Much better in a tiny home is a urine drain, which can be run into a tank if needed, but also into a drain pit. Urine is not a health risk. The bottle is not an option with the 9210, but a tank is, which is far better. Have you also looked at the Thinktank toilet? It offers some advantages.
Hello
We purchased a Separett toilet a few years ago and are very happy with its performance.
The only problem we have is the actual breaking down of the compost after emptying the bag and replacing it. We do not have plumbing at our cottage, so we can’t flush it away. So for the human waste component after emptying the bag – we have been trying to compost adding leaves and manually moving the contents around in a large tub which we punched some holes into for aeration. It does not seem to be working and we are worried about disposing of the contents of the tub as they are not breaking down even after a year and half.
Could you recommend a rotating drum type composter that might do a better job.
Previously we owned a SunMar composting toilet which had a rotating drum as part of the toilet. We had to add peat moss and bark to the drum contents, but they plus the rotation and the heat from below the drum seemed to work as far as making “safe” compost to use in the garden. The only thing we did not like was the latrine like smell and often the flies/mites that thrived!! That was the main reason for moving to the Separett.
We noticed in our local Lee Valley Tools website they are selling a dual barrel manual rotating composting bin. Do you think this may be helpful in our situation? Also, if we purchase this, should it be in a sunny site to help breakdown of the compost?
Any advice you can provide would be helpful.
Composting is not difficult but it does require following some basic steps. Firstly, you say you “emptied the bag”. You should never empty the bag. This will be messy and unpleasant. You dump the contents of the solid waste container – bag and all – into your compost bin outside.
I don’t know exactly what you mean by a tub, but it doesn’t sound ideal. You need a real compost bin that has a lid. It cannot be open to the elements because human waste is a health risk.
You can read more about how to actually compost on my page here. How to Compost Human Waste
Just adding leaves will not be sufficient. You need both carbon rich (browns) and nitrogen rich (greens) materials. Dry leaves, dry grass, sawdust, straw and shredded cardboard would be good sources of carbon rich material. Green grass or vegetable matter would be nitrogen rich material. There are many sources for both, and you can read more online. Human waste would be considered neutral. So a bag of waste, and armful of green grass, and some sawdust would be fine.
Much has been written about the optimal ratio between the two, but I don’t bother much with that. If it seems dry, add greens. If it seems wet, add browns.
The contents of a stationary bin will have to be turned, as composting requires aeration. Much easier and faster is the compost tumbler as you have mentioned. The Lee Valley bin looks interesting, but the access doors look a bit small. You want the largest door possible so you can dump the bags easily and remove finished compost easily. I like the Redmon tumbler. However, it looks like it is currently out of stock. Redmon tumbler Tumblers can make compost in as little as a few months, or less.
Once you learn the basics, I’m sure you will have no problems.
Hello,
Could you recommend something for us? We have a bunkie and are using it only on weekends, about four to six people per weekend. It will be installed in a separate outhouse style building off the back of the bunkie. We have solar system and batteries but cannot run a full electric incinerating toilet, but enough for vent fans etc. Thank you.
I recommend the Thinktank Waterless Toilet. It’s the best one I’ve seen, and perfect for this application. The fan uses 3 watts. It is the only urine diverting toilet that men can use while standing.
You can read about it here: Thinktank toilet
And watch a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEtRf4pCHVc&t=2s
Bonjour
j’ai une petite maison estivale, nous sommes généralement deux personnes qui vivent a cet endroit les fins de semaine et quelques fois les enfants viennent pour une journée ou deux.
L’espace disponible pour la toilette est 32″ par 40″, c’est facilement réalisable de drainer l’urine dans un lit de gravier sur le terrain. 1. D’abord mon espace est -elle suffisante? 2. Les toilettes qui séparent l’urine sont elles faciles d’usage pour les femmes sans utiliser un autre accessoire pour diriger l’urine au bon endroit? 3. Je voyais sur le plan qu’il est possible de passer le tuyau d’évacuation d’air par le mur, est ce que je dois poser un tuyau plus haut que le toit pour éviter que les odeurs penetrent par les fenêtres a proximité?
merci de votre soutien
English translation from Google:
Good morning
I have a small summer house, we are usually two people who live there on weekends and sometimes the children come for a day or two.
The space available for the toilet is 32″ by 40″, it is easily achievable to drain urine in a bed of gravel on the ground. 1. First, is my space sufficient? 2. Are urine-diverting toilets easy for women to use without using another device to direct urine to the right place? 3. I saw on the plan that it is possible to pass the air exhaust pipe through the wall, do I have to lay a pipe higher than the roof to prevent odors from entering through the nearby windows? ?
Thank you for your support
Jocelyn Lapointe
Jocelyn Lapointe
Hello Jocelyn,
May I respond in English? We have a translator but it takes several days. I’m studying French, but only as a beginner!
Anyway, It sounds like you have enough room. No problem.
There can be odour within 7 or 8 feet from the end of the pipe, so if a window is nearby you must put a 90 degree elbow on the pipe and run it upwards (or at least away from the window). My vent is about 7 feet from a window and I have never smelled anything.
Urine diverting toilets are easy for women to use if they follow basic instructions. Some shorter women lean forward when sitting on the toilet. This tilts the pelvis backwards, and the pee goes back instead of forward or down. The solution is to sit more upright. Very short women might need a footstool. But almost never. Also, with the Thinktank the trap door stays closed unless going number 2. If the trap door is closed, pee can go anywhere in the bowl. It will be funneled to the correct spot. So the Thinktank is the best urine diverting toilet for women.
I have attached the manual in French in an email to you.
Please let me know if you have more questions.
Hi there
This may be a bit odd, but I’m researching these composting toilets for a place I have in Tanzania. There is an option of having a water pipe to my place as well as electricity. I would need to bring a toilet with me – unless I can find the product in Tanzania.
I live in BC.
It’s a farming area near Kilimanjaro and it’s a pretty poor area. I have a charity over there and want to build a place for people to stay when visiting
Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated
Thanks
Joanne
I would be concerned about getting parts down the road if your toilet ever needed repair. Repairs are rare but of course it is possible. Shipping costs might be high. The most robust and reliable choice would be the Thinktank toilet. Often in developing countries people use local labour and materials to build composting toilets. These are usually pretty crude but if you can find a urine diverting seat, a fan, PVC vent pipe and a good carpenter you could make something nice. I strongly suggest urine diversion. There are numerous NGOs building basic composting toilets in Africa and elsewhere. If that option interests you, you might start with SOIL in Haiti.
Is there a DC power cord I can use to hook the fan up to a solar generator rather than alligator clips to a battery?
The Thinktank comes with wires for this purpose. The Separett has alligator clips on the ends of the wires. You woulod just cut them off.
Hey Richard…..
I just wanted to get your opinion of this new “Thinktank Waterless Toilet” versus the Separett Vila 9210? Any advantages of one over the other…pricewise, they are identical. I like the fact that men don’t have to sit to pee, but how about build quality and warranty on both units? What Canadian Standard Approval ratings do they have for installing? I’m looking to install one or the other in my waterfront cottage on Maclean Lake which is in Severn Township, ON and I’m getting some negative responses to being able to using a french drain or holding tank for the urine (if I use a holding tank, the township wants me to pay to have the urine collected by pump truck).
The person I spoke to in the building department had never heard of the Separett toilet before (nevermind the Thinktank, as today was the first day that I came across it in my google searchs). I don’t want to spend the money on either unit just to be told that I need to put in a tile bed just for urine.
By the way…what sparked the flame for this encounter with the Severn Building Dept was a letter that they sent out to all lakefront property owners that they were implementing a “Discretionary On-Site Sewage Maintenance Inspection Program” and that all old established cottages were going to be inspected by an independent engineering firm. Those places that have grey water pits and outhouses have to bring those systems up to current day code.
Hello William,
You are the second person in two days from the Severn area to contact me. They have apparently implemented very strict regulations around toilets.
The Thinktank and Separett are both basically storage containers, where the solid waste is removed and composted safely in a sealed rotating bin. The urine can usually be drained into a French drain, except in your area. The guy I spoke with yesterday was under the impression that he had to put it in a tank, and have the tank pumped out. This was hard for him , as he was water access only. Pee is 95% water, and not a health risk, but it is powerful fertilizer. If you are close to the water, you should be able to drain it to a tank, dilute it, and spray on plants. Hauling it away is a terrible solution as it is very costly and environmentally unfriendly. Having a big truck burn fossil fuel, spewing pollution and carbon dioxide into the air, all to remove pee from your site is the absolute height of absurdity. They are creating a big problem by solving a non-problem.
(Incidentally, in BC the health authorities say urine is not a threat and can be drained into a mulch bed. This is consistent with WHO and EPA (in the US) guidelines. Why Ontario regulators have drawn a different conclusion is a bit of a mystery).
CSA approval means basically nothing when it comes to toilets. I have never, not once, in 15 years of doing this found the CSA approval helpful or required for a waterless or composting toilet. Some locations may require NSF 41 certification, but urine diverting toilets like these are not eligible for that, as the composting takes place in a secondary container. The Separett Villa has a CSA sticker, but newer models such as the Thinktank do not, because CSA stopped approving waterless toilets entirely. The electrical components are of course still CSA appoved in all toilets.
You may wish to read my brief article on permitting waterless toilets on my site.
It might be important to tell them that these toilets are not actually composting toilets. They are watereless, urine diverting toilets where the waste is simply collected and partially dehydrated for safe disposal elsewhere. So regulations pertaining to true composting toilets should not apply.
Whether or not you can meet regulations in your area with these toilets, I cannot say. The guy I talked to yesterday was resigned to draining the pee to a tank. The one good thing about this is, because there is no flush water or solid waste, it will take a long, long time to fill up a big tank. If you have road access it might not be so bad.
The Thinktank has several advantages over the Separett. They are pasted below. The basic functioning is the same.
Let me know if you need anything else. And please, tell me how it goes. I’d be very interested in your final solution.
Thintank Waterless Composting Toilets are virtually airtight under normal operating conditions! They draw ventilation from outside – in contrast to other toilets which draw ventilation air from the bathroom area. With other toilets, you are rapidly blowing expensively heated or cooled air outside. The Thintank Waterless Composting Toilet, through its patented airtight design, draws all ventilation air from outside, circulates it through the toilet, and exhausts the same air outside. This saves a great deal of money over time, is far more efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Because the Thintank Waterless urine diverting toilet is tightly sealed, ingress by insects is virtually impossible. This solves a major problem with other waterless and composting toilets.
The patented trap door design allows men to stand when urinating – in contrast to other toilets where men must sit. The trap door stays closed unless you are going #2. It is impossible for the urine to end up in the solids bin – which is a big problem with other toilets.
BETTER LOOKING DESIGN – with vent pipes hidden behind the toilet in most installations (in contrast to other toilets, with vent pipes coming out the top or out the side).
Thinktank Waterless Toilets use the best fans in the world. They have exceptional output (high cubic feet per minute rating), powerful static pressure (strength of airflow rating), are very quiet, draw low power, and have an incredibly long life (rated at 150,000 hours). Two fans are provided – one for the air intake and one for exhaust. However, in most installations the intake fan will be unnecessary and you can keep it as a spare. The intake fan is useful for very long runs of vent pipe. The toilets are designed for these fans to be easily accessible and removable.
All metal parts are high quality marine grade stainless steel.
The toilet is incredibly strong. The shell is rotationally molded like a white water kayak. This is the strongest possible way to build something in plastic. Rated at 350lbs plus. Big guy approved!
Works on either 12 volt (a deep cycle 12 volt battery) or 110 volt power (normal household electricity) with the supplied wall transformer.
Uses inexpensive, widely available compostable bags. 10 bags are included.
BEST WARRANTY IN THE INDUSTRY. The toilet is covered for 6 years. (3 years on fans. Fans are inexpensive and easy to replace).
Hi, I purchased a nature head toilet from you a few years ago. Would I be able to purchase the AC adaptor for this unit? Thanks, Scott
Hello,
Do you have a list of composting toilets that are approved in Ontario.
Thanks, Pieter Bergen
pkwbergen@gmail.com
Sadly, it is not so simple. No composting or waterless toilets are automatically approved in Ontario or anywhere else. Government agencies are understandably concerned with what comes out of the toilet when full. No toilet produces finished, safe compost. And we must therefore presume it requires further aging or composting elsewhere. (Some older designs of composting toilets claim they do, but in practice, they don’t.) The solid waste must be stored in a secondary container (usually a plastic compost bin) after it has been removed from the toilet, where it sits for about a year. If you need a permit, you will have to talk to local governments and see what they require. It might be a waste management plan from an engineer. 99.9% of these go in without formal permitting, which can be expensive. You can read more about permitting here. And how to safely compost the waste (it’s super easy) here. Call me if you need more details.
Love our Separett toilet. This past weekend the fan has ceased and needs replacement. Please let me know where I can buy just the fan component of the toilet
Just wondering if Separett has realized the flaw in there design and have a stronger more solid toilet seat option yet?
Not sure if I’m the only person that leans over a bit to do paper work, but as soon as you lean to to side of the toilet the cheap plastic seat bends/ warps up that then allows the button to raise and the blue flap will half close enough to block the dirty toilet paper on it. Have had to clean up mess to many times. Have to get off toilet, wipe and maually push seat down to dispose paper.
Hello, I need a composting toilet that will work at a private beach. Naramata, BC, Okanagan Lake. No electricity there, could possibly use a solar panel. What product would you recommend?
I suggest the Thinktank.
Hi Richard I have talked to you before and I have an pit toilet which works well but not as handy for others to use , the Separett is one that I am looking at and have a few ? the urine pipe is outside the insulated out house does this freeze in out cold Canadian winters so there is no chance for a backup into the toilet . I have read the comments by others but BC is one thing but Quebec and Ontario is another . I will keep the electricity on all the time in the out house for the fan and a small heater when it will be used in colder weather but the urine pipe is still exposed what do you think ?
It is not a problem. Make sure the drain line slopes down everywhere, and there will be no standing liquid to freeze. Insulate the pipe if it is exposed outside. The outlet should be as deep as practical, ideally below the frost line. You might be able to insulate a drain pit with rigid insulation. In the event it does freeze at the bottom, hot water through the pipe should fix it.
What is the voltage and current the fan uses in operation of the toilet
12 volts or 110-120 volts with the supplied transformer. 2.5-3 watts.
Hi there,
My husband and I are on the brink of purchasing a recreational property that is fairly isolated. There is no septic system and we would like to install a composting toilet. Is it possible to do this without electricity? I am wondering about the fan that is supposed to run 24/7..
Thanks
Alyssa
The fan is needed to exhaust the stinky air inside your toilet. Some bury the waste under sawdust and hope it doesn’t stink, but I do not find that an acceptable solution. You can use a 12 volt battery with a solar panel. As a last resort you could try a rotating turbine vent. There is a toilet that is pretty much airtight under normal usage conditions called the Thinktank Waterless Toilet. This toilet is less likely to smell if no fan is hooked up. However, you still should find a way to power the fan. Everything works better.
We have been using the 9210 unit for two years now and think its great. Recently extra female use and too much urine is getting into the bucket. Is there a way to prevent this?
Yes. Some women, especially shorter women, lean forward when sitting on the toilet. This tilts the pelvis back, and urine can go backwards, rather than straight down or forwards. The easy solution is to ask women to sit a little more upright. Very short women may need a foot stool.
can a compostable toilet be outside? We are going to install an outdoor shower and are checking out the possibly of having an outdoor toilet as well.
It is an electrical device and needs to be protected from the elements. It must stay dry.
Hey Richard,
I believe my fan on my Separett 9210 is no longer running at full speed, I think it may have fizzled out and is on it’s way out because the odor has gone from odourless to letting odor sit in the house
It sounds like you need a fan.
Hi Richard
We are looking for a porcelain or stainless steel urine diverting toilet. I see many available in Europe and also some in USA but none in Canada. We are specifically interested in the Eco Dry which is porcelain or the Multrum clivus cl810 which is stainless steel
https://www.wostman.se/en/ecodry
https://www.wastewatercenter.com/our-products/dry-composting-toilets/clivus-multrum/clivus-cl810-flush-free-dry-toilet
We live on Pender Island, one of the Gulf Islands on the West coast of Canada, with very little water! I believe there will be a big market here once people catch on.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Unless something has recently changed, the Eco Dry is just a pedestal. There is nothing inside to store or contain the waste, or a ventilation system, or a fan. It would normally use a container under the floor, and I don’t like that approach for numerous reasons. It also does not have a view screen or trap door, which means as soon as you open the lid you are staring at the last person’s poop. These are the reasons why they are not imported into Canada.
Clivus Multrum have some of the same problems. UBC put in many CM toilets a few years back, and have had huge problems.
The best solution is a self contained urine diverting toilet with a trap door or view screen, vent, and fan.
We are interested in your system and have a few questions: first can you tell us more about the bags- are they truly biodegradeable or do they just break down into smaller pieces of plastic. Also we don’t see any bags for sale- how much are they and where do we get them?
They are compostable and do not break down into plastic. You can get Glad Tall compostable bags at Canadian Tire and Walmart.
Sorry for the late response! But THANK YOU for the wonderful urine bottle lids. Your prompt service was greatly appreciated.
Hi Richard. We purchased one of your toilets towards the end of 2019. We installed it when we opened our cottage last spring. There is just my wife and I on a regular basis but we did have some others up a couple of times. Because of Covid-19 we didn’t spend too much time at the cottage. When we went to empty the bin the first time there was a large amount of liquid in the bin along with the waste. At the time we figured that this was because perhaps a couple of the male visitors had not listened to the “DON’T PEE IN THE TOILET UNLESS YOU ARE SITTING!” rule. We started a new setup this spring and only my wife and I are using the cottage. She’s the only one who uses the toilet. We are noticing that there again is a lot of liquid in the bin again! I have checked and the urine drain hose is connected and working properly and the fan is running.
Have you encountered this problem with any other units? Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you
Bill Demkiw
If you are sure that all the connections are not leaking, then it is simply a matter of the pee going too far back. It can happen especially with women who are short. They lean forward when sitting on the toilet, and this tilts the pelvis back. Pee goes back, instead of down. The easy fix is to encourage females to sit more upright. A footstool may be helpful for some. It also may help if she sits slightly more forward on the seat.
Good Day : Interested in purchasing a natures head toilet for our camp.Can you tell me the product that goes into the holding tank for waste.Is it some sort of coco fibre and I do not see anything like that on the site to purchase.Any information would be apprecciated.Thank you.
I like coco coir. It comes in bricks, and can be purchased at gardening stores, some hardware stores, and online.
Sounds like it might be a good solution for you. It is $1544 which includes and shipping pretty much everything you need except possibly a bit of pipe from the hardware store, depending on your installation. The vent pipe typically goes out the wall, where it can terminate, or you can put a 90 degree elbow there and take it up as high as needed. Power is needed – either 110 volt or 12 volt. The urine drains out a hose, typically to a drain pit.
I’m sure you will have more questions both now and later when installing. I’m here 6 days a week via email or phone.
I’m interested in using the Separett Composting Toilet in three season addition on our workshop.
I have a few questions.
We live in a rural setting in southern Ontario. We do get freezing weather, but not like in northern climes. We anticipate we can keep the temperature in the room with the “facilities” above zero centigrade.
1. Power supply. Can the unit be plugged into a regular duplex outlet. If yes, how long is the chord? – or should we plan on placing the unit O/C with the outlet.
2. Our plan is drain the liquids into near the weeping tile do our building. This drains into a holding tank and then into a holding pond. Our soils are fairly sandy. Does this sound feasible to you.
3. Ventilation. Where we want to place the unit, a straight vent pipe would end up under the soffit of the main building. Could we put an elbow in the vent stack and redirect the stack so that it projects outside the soffit area.
1) Yes. It’s about 3′ long.
2) Yes.
3) Yes. Not more than 3 total bends. Short and straight is best.
Just wondering if the fan can be hooked to a 12V battery system or do you need to have a 120V power system? I love this idea. We are planning on building some tiny homes on our property for family and friends when the come to visit. But they will not be near electricity. We were hoping to run it off batteries with a solar panel to recharge.
Yes, the toilets are designed to work on either 12 volts DC or 110-120 volts AC (wall outlet). There are wires included that will attache to the + and – terminals of a battery.
Are you also the distributor for “Peat moss, coconut fiber, biological compost starter”?
We wonder how it would work in a cargo van.
I’m not sure where the quote is from, but not from my site. I do not recommend any biological compost starter and truthfully I think that product is a scam. Human waste is something like 80% bacteria by weight and it does not need any “starter”. It’s already compost rocket fuel.
The Nature’s Head only needs coco coir. Peat moss can be used, but I don’t like it because it’s bulky, and needs to be stored outside (where it could be infested with insects or fly eggs). It also takes 100 years to grow and is not an environmentally friendly product.
Coco coir is perfect for a van as it comes in small compressed bricks.
Hello Richard,
Thank you for a most informative website.
I’d like to ask you a few questions which may help us decide.
We’re debating (as most do) about the 2 systems. Is the Separett (S) relying on more ‘fan’power to dry out waste whereas Nature’s head (NH) relies mostly on effective separation of solids and urine as well as sphagnum absorption?
Which of the 2 systems (S or NH) has the most effective urine diversion seat or system?
Lastly, the composting toilet will mostly serve 2-3 people intermittent use. Would either type accommodate such use?
Thank you,
Lo and Annemarie
1) Is the Separett (S) relying on more ‘fan’power to dry out waste whereas Nature’s head (NH) relies mostly on effective separation of solids and urine as well as sphagnum absorption? No. The fans in both toilets evacuate stinky humid air out of the toilet.
2) Which of the 2 systems (S or NH) has the most effective urine diversion seat or system? I would say they are equally effective.
3) the composting toilet will mostly serve 2-3 people intermittent use. Would either type accommodate such use? Yes, both would be fine.
You cannot buy the 9215 in Canada. It is the same as the 9210, with different pipe. In Canada you want the 9210. I have no idea why the price difference exists. This is set by Separett.
I am looking at putting in a composting toilet at our cottage. It is a 3 season cottage. My brother has a sunmar with the externexternal tank system. I am leaning towards this style.
Suggestions?
Scott
I used to sell most major brands of composting toilets, but now only sell the newer urine diverting models. The concept with your brother’s system is great. But in practice many people have difficulty with it. The problem is with frequent usage. The heater or vent in the old style all-in-one toilets (which is there to evaporate urine) may not keep up with the volume of urine flowing in. In that case, you get a tank of raw sewage.
Separett toilets are pretty simple. They separate the urine and feces in the bowl. This gets rid of 90% of the odour right at the start. It is much easier to compost feces than a combination of feces and urine. Urine drains to a pit, and the feces are compost in a bin on the property. It’s very easy, and foolproof. The feces are never in contact with the inner workings of the toilet, so there is seldom any clean up. Emptying takes 5 minutes.
Hello!
Is it possible to have the drawing (dimensions) of the version with the shifter and de foot spider?
Because the actual drawing show the dim for the crank and the hand spider. Looks like the shifter is higher than the top of cover and the foot spider is larger than the hand spider.
Thank you in advance!
Suzanne
We don’t have updated drawings yet, sorry. However the dimensions are very similar to the spider handle diagram. The crank handle has been discontinued.
Hi Richard. I live in Nova Scotia and want to put hat a separett 9215 composting toilet. I cannot seem to find this more recent toilet. My sister just purchased on in Maine. Can you please let me know why you only have the 9210 version?
Many thanks Lisa Underwood
The 9210 and 9215 are identical except for the vent pipe. In Canada you want the 9210.
Hi I am currently building a 18′ catamaran powered by a 20 hp electric motor. I live in Ontario and I am not sure if a portable toilet system is legal in Ontario and I may require a holding tank with pump out. Can you clarify this for me. If it is legal to have your toilet on a small boat in Ontario can you direct me to any legal text that clarify the requirement.
Regards
Phil
First, it’s not a portable toilet system. Transport Canada is responsible for this issue, and they have not come out with a statement on composting toilets. However, I’ve spoken to them many times about it. It can be argued that composting toilets are in fact a holding tank system, but they have some concerns about the urine bottle, as it is only 2 gallons. They suspect (probably correctly) that people will dump it over the side. It’s legal to pee over the side of your boat, but it is not legal to pee in a bottle and pour it over the side (Crazy, I know). If you plumbed the urine drain to a larger tank which you intended to pump out (easy), you would have a full holding tank system and be 100% legal with no confusion. This is what I would do on the lakes. In summary, the toilet with the urine bottle may well not be legal, but if you use a larger holding tank it should be. No one to the best of out knowledge has ever run into trouble or been issued a ticket for having a composting toilet on the lakes. Large numbers of US boaters visit Canadian waters with composting toilets and they never have problems or get tickets. There is no legal text providing clarification. (On the US side, the USCG is responsible for this issue and they call it the “best possible solution”, but in Canada we have no such clarity.)
Hi Richard,
I hope you and your family are doing well during this time.
My questions for you are:
1) What is the difference between the Separett 9200 and 9210?
2) I see that the toilet seat is raised a bit from main bowl which I believe this is to operate the solids door to open when you sit down. Does this gap between the seat and main bowl allow urine smell (this may be remaining on bowl after use) into the air?
3) What is the price including shipping to Ontario, Canada
4)Do these units ever go on sale?
Thank you!
Kindest regards,
Amy
Hi Amy.
1) the 9200 has been discontinued.
2) No, any urine odor would normally be sucked into the toilet by the fan.
3) $1544.
4) No, sorry.
Hi.
we have an Ontario 32 sailboat. Presently using a holding tank with raw water flush.
Is there a solution with your system?
Flushing the holding tank is always a point of concern (personally). We always flush well out.
I would like to find an alternative.
Reading reviews etc, I am stumped.
We use our sailboat 2-3 weeks at a go. translating 6 months through, then sporadic bits of 2-3 days.
Is there an alternative with your company?
Canadian design support.
Thank you in advance.
Bob Craig
The Nature’s Head was designed for this purpose. Honestly, it works amazingly well. I was at a wooden boat show last year, and was on probably 20 boats. The one boat with a Nature’s Head was the ONLY boat that had zero odor. If you have a holding tank system, it will almost always have odors. The big advantage is no pumpouts. Ever. Now, if you are on the Great Lakes, you need to plumb the urine drain to a bigger tank. They don’t like the urine draining to a bottle. Fortunately, this is easy. I can lead you through it.
HI I purchased the Separett toilet from Walmart, and they sent me the DC version. I have purchased a toilet from you in the past, and it came with the regular 120V adapter for the wall. I cannot get ahold of Walmart, but my question is, can I use any compatible adapter with this toilet? please advise. Also do you offer a contractors rate for multiple purchases?
Cheers
Pam
Walmart is not a good place to buy these toilets, because 1) they can’t help you, as you found out, 2) they are more expensive, and 3) you can’t get advice and help from me after the purchase. I do not provide free customer service to Walmart customers. There is no reason to support Walmart – a huge US based corporation, rather than a small Canadian owned business (me).
First of all I need to know if you speak french or if you have someone who may communicate in french?
I have a tiny house for week end for two adult and we hope to install a toilet.
electrical is availaible in the bathroom
I am in Quebec so we have cold winter.. What will be the best for us? the space is very small, I was looking for the separett but not sure becaus of liquid to put outside but the system and the look his very interesting otherwise the nature’s with the liquid thank should be interesting to. Is it possible to add a thank like nature’s head to the separett ? need your knowledge support please. you can contact me on my cellphone 418-633-0274
I’m sorry, we do not speak french. Cold does not matter. You could plumb the Separett anywhere you like – but you’d have to buy a tank. If it drains in to the ground, it should go below the frost line.
Is it possible to put the vent through the floor instead of the sidewall? All of this to preserve the perfect van look.
Thank you
Yes, no problem. The floor is okay. I personally prefer the roof.
Where do you recommend getting coco coir. I am having a hard time finding it.
Home Hardware, most gardening stores, online.
How do you secure the toilet to the floor
Screws go through the bottom.
We have a remote cabin on the Alaska Highway, where it can get extremely cold for 6-7 months of the year. Right now we use an out house and I use a little camper toilet, just for liquids. This summer my husband hopes to put in a toilet, yeah!, so I am wondering what you would recommend for these type of conditions
Either the Nature’s Head or Separett would be good. The weather does not matter.
Not clear what happens when you do both 1 and 2 at the same time.
This is no problem at all. The rear section of the bowl is a chute, and the forward section is a funnel. When either men or women sits on the toilet, urine will mostly go forward, and solid waste will fall straight down. A few women, especially very short women, might be in the habit of leaning forward when they sit on a toilet. In this case, the pelvis tilts back, and urine can be directed back. Too much urine might go down the chute. The easy solution is to sit a little more upright when using the toilet. Very short people might need a stool for their feet.
My Nature’s Head becomes hard to turn the crank after a couple of weeks. (2 people using the toilet). I’m using coconut shell fiber. Am I doing something wrong? I read one review that suggested the mix may be too dry and to add liquid. This seemed counterintuitive to me. Suggestions??
It is too dry.
What is the difference between the 9210 and the 9215 compost toilets thanks Bill
The 9210 is the Canadian model, and the 9215 is in the USA. The only difference is the venting pipe.
Hey wondering where I can buy composable plastic bag . Live in New Brunswick Canada.
Canadian Tire has Glad Tall Compostable bags that work very well.
im buying an older rv and will be off grid which toliet do u recommend?
An older RV will likely have a smaller bathroom area. The Separett might not fit, so the nature’s Head is the solution.
Hi Richard, I am building a cabin in NW, Ontario, near Nestor Falls, Ontario. Cabin will be used about 70 days per year by 2-8 people per night. This is new construction in a remote area. I have flexibility on building “bathroom” anyway I need to to accommodate the best compost toilet available.
1) what compost toilet do you recommend?
2) where are you located? Do you ship to Fort Frances or Nestor Falls, Ontario?
Thanks for help and recommendations.
I’s suggest the Separett if you have 8 people using the toilet. I ship anywhere.
Hi Richard,
Can you answer how the Separett system manages in the winter? Is there anything special you need to do?
Thank you,
Tammy
It requires mothing special in the winter. Works perfectly in cold temperatures.
Hi Richard.
I’m considering replacing the current toilet in my new (used) RV with a Separett. Do you think the urine could be diverted into the black water tank, then emptied from there? I’m Also wondering if you have those blue tablet things that Separette sells for their toilets. They sit in the urine diverter. I think they stop the urine from turning to ammonia (something I do with vinegar at the moment).
Thanks,
Danielle
Yes, that is a great solution, presuming you have the drop. Gravity is needed to drain the pee into the tank. We have the enzyme blocks.
hi
Im interested in this product for my off grid home, how do you deal with cleaning the bowl during a number 2 if you cannot add liquid or cleaners to your compost
Toilets with a larger opening for the solid waste like the Separett are not a problem, because little if anything touches the sides of the bowl. The waste falls straight down the large hole. If you do get a mess, or have a toilet with a smaller opening, then you spray a little water into the bowl with a spray bottle and wipe it clean using a paper towel. You can drop the paper towel into the toilet when done. I know of one very squeamish person that puts the paper towel on the end of a paint stick when cleaning the bowl.
Good day,
We are considering a Natures Head toilet for our property on Haida Gwaii.
Can the lower unit be used with a compostable bag liner so I don’t have to lift it?
Or should I consider the Separett toilet.
We are a retired couple who use the off grid property about half the time.
Thank You for your time.
doug.
To use the Nature’s Head with a bag, you would have to remove the rotating mechanism. I have nevr done this, but I don’t think it would be difficult for a handy person with basic tools. Of course you’s need to put stainless steel nuts and bolts in the holes left in the sides of the toilet, after removing the mechanism.
Hello Richard – we were thinking of putting a composting toilet on our boat. Does toilet paper in the solids tank impede the process, or emptying? Thank you, Alan
Toilet paper is fine. It does not impeded the process or emptying. Put it in the toilet.
Great Toilet system. Do you also sell the separett composting bags or will any composting bag work?
There are Separett bags for sale, however many people use generic compostable bags which are a bit thinner but much cheaper. If you use the generic bags, double bag it. Get the tall size. Canadian Tire has them.
What are the size dimensions and details (plugs or clamps) for the battery needed for the Separett 9210 villa 12V I don’t see them on the website where do you recommend getting one?
The wires on the toilet have alligator clips, which can adjust to the size of pretty much any battery post. You could take these wires to the store to make sure. I can’t recommend a store for batteries, but any store selling deep cycle 12 volt batteries could sell you one.
Hi
I am very interested in a composting toilet. I would use it in our house which is usually occupied by my wife and I. The reviews suggest that the Nature’s Head unit is the best available. Is that your opinion as well?
The price seems a bit daunting but:
are they suitable in ordinary rural homes?
can I join the venting pipe to my existing bathroom fan exhaust ducting in the crawl space and not use an additional fan?
will it sit on the footprint of my existing ordinary toilet after I remove it
Thanks
Yes, they are very suitable in rural homes. No, you can’t use ducting hooked up to another fan. The toilet vent pipe should not have to travel far, and it should not be connected to any other fixtures – or odour could come up from those fixtures. It will usually fit in the space of a regular toilet (measure first). However, when you take off the old toilet, you will need to cap the sewer pipe. When you do that, the floor will not be flat (you will have a cap). You’ll need to figure out a way to make that flush. Maybe a piece of plywood the same thickness as the cap,, with a hole cut out of it to accommodate the cap. This will raise the toilet by the thickness of the plywood.
Hi Richard;
I’ve been looking at the urine diverting toilets on this webpage (https://compostingtoiletscanada.ca/urine-diverting-toilets/).
It all seems to make sense, however, I am concerned about whether men can avoid contact with the urine-diversion portion of the toilet toilet while seated.
I look forward to your reply.
Steve
This is not a problem. Plenty of clearance!
Hi. I’ve had my composting toilet just over a year. The fan has stopped working so I need a replacement. Can I get this from you? I picked up this toilet from a gentleman from Kingston (who has a farm in Marmora) in the parking lot of a Tim Horton’s in Marmora. Of course a little fan can be sent via mail. In which case I have two mailing addresses. If the item will be sent in packaging that will fit in a PO Box then it can be sent to my address: 1053 Lees Rd., Tory Hill, ON K0L 2Y0. Otherwise, it can be sent to PO Box 99, Wilberforce, ON K0L 3C0 to the general store. If I can get this item from you let me know and I will give you my credit card #. Thanks
Hello ,We are looking to upgrade to a compostable toilet for our cottage . The type we are looking for is one that will work for our needs and do not want a compostable that will not handle up to 15 people especially when we have guests over .Thank you .
Sincerely ,Joseph Vinci ,President of ZACHARIE INC 2000.
I do not think such a toilet exists. 15 people is a lot. Maybe 2 or 3 toilets?
Do any of the so called compostable bags work when not exposed to sunlight and air ? In other words will they continue composting when buried?
I think they will eventually break down, but it will be much slower without air.
What a wonderful invention. We now own two of these amazing poop decks. There is no smell.
The vent above the cottage needs to be high enough for the breeze to catch the plume of smell. Otherwise the smell floats in the bedroom window. We live off of the power grid so our fan is solar powered. Very efficient. Another neat advantage is that the urine effluent stimulates the trees receiving it and we have what appear to be genetic anomalies. The leaves are 3 times their normal size. Kind of funny when guests ask us what kind of trees we have that produce such beautiful shade and can they have one to transplant. We highly recommend this toilet. When I found out today that compostable Glad tall bags doubled are a fraction of the price of the Swedish bags but work as well I was so satisfied. One last thing- When I phoned, I got a real person. This toilet beats an outhouse anyday when one is afflicted with IBS and proximity is a priority.
I recently purchased your urine-diverting insert for installing in my Tiny House On Wheels in British Columbia. I have been using it consistently as my only toilet for over three winter months and I am very impressed with the quality and performance. No smell, no mess, simple to use and difficult to screw up.
For photos of my installation and tips on how I use this diverter go to: http://tinyhousetalk.com/petes-125-sq-ft-tiny-house-on-wheels-in-british-columbia/?
Thanks Separett
Pete