Composting Toilets: How they work - An Overview
Installation | Moisture | Oxygen | Temperature | PathogensEcoflo composting toilets provide a hygenic method of recycling human waste. They avoid the need to waste and pollute precious water. The waste is collected in a small chamber directly beneath the toilet pedestal. A low powered 12 volt electric fan continually circulates air through the chamber, evaporating liquids, speeding the composting process and eliminating odours.
The batch process composting toilets come with at least two composting chambers. Fill one, put it aside to continue composting, and put the second chamber into use. When it's time to change chambers again, the contents of the first chamber should be well and truly composted. You then remove the compost, put it on your garden or bury it, and re-use the chamber.
The modular batch systems (The Classic models and the Compact and Excelet) allow capacity to be virtually unlimited. If usage increases, buy an additional chamber and rotate the chambers more often.
The continuous process composting toilets (The Excel, Mobile and Centrex models) complete the composting process in situ. Once finished, the humus is removed from the tray at the base of the unit and disposed of as per the batch process models.
Good composting is achieved by ensuring correct levels of moisture, oxygen, temperature and carbon/nitrogen ratio. All Nature Loo systems use the same type of ventilation and drainage to take away excess liquids from solids and provide adequate oxygen. Warmth is developed inside the pile itself and by exposure of the chamber to direct sunlight. In the case of most Sun-Mar toilets warmth is created by a heating element. Carbon rich mulch is added to develop the correct carbon to nitrogen balance.
Keeping Ecoflo composting toilets clean and fresh is incredibly simple. Every so often, just as with a conventional flush toilet, you might need to give it a scrub with a toilet brush. When you do, use a biodegradable detergent. Better still use Nature-Flush enzymes (see Options in the Toilets section).
All Ecoflo composting toilet systems are completely free of chemicals and odours.
