At the Composting Toilet Store, we get all kinds of questions about how our Sun-Mar systems work. These four questions represent the majority of inquiries we receive, and are a great place to start if you're considering a composting toilet system for your home.
As dealers of composting toilet systems,
we are accustomed to getting a lot of questions about how our units work and how they're able to operate without odor. To that end, we've compiled a list of some of our most frequently asked questions, which may be helpful to consumers who are considering purchasing a composting toilet or who just want to better educate themselves on this eco friendly waste management solution. Please be sure to note that all the information in this article pertains specifically to Sun-Mar composting toilet systems.
1. What is composting and how does a composting toilet work?
Composting is the basic process of breaking down organic matter. For example, in a garden composter, you put in yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings, and mulch, and eventually you get finished compost. Compost, also known as "black gold," is the most fertile substance you can use for planting, fertilizing, and amending soil. This is because it contains all the essential minerals and nutrients that plants need to grow and thrive.
Human waste can be composted just like any other organic matter. In fact, the composting process is even more rapid than in a garden composter, because our digestive systems have already done the majority of the breaking down process for us. Human waste is about 90% water, which means that one of the primary functions of a composting toilet is evaporation. Sun-Mar composting toilets feature a separate evaporation chamber where liquid is warmed (in electric units only) and evaporated with the assistance of a fan that is constantly moving air through the unit. Bulking material and microbes are added to break down the remaining minerals and what you are left with is a clean, dry, non-offensive compost---exactly the same end product as you would get from a backyard garden composter, or what you'd buy from a local nursery or garden center.
2. Does a composting toilet smell bad?
Absolutely
not. Sun-Mar composting toilets are odorless for two reasons. First, sewer gasses are a byproduct of anaerobic composting, which means that the materials being broken down aren't aerated with ample oxygen. Sun-Mar's units all use aerobic composting as their method of breaking down waste. Aerobic microbes are very efficient, breaking down waste quickly, and most importantly, they do not put off methane or sulfate gasses in the decomposition process. Second, Sun-Mar systems are designed to maintain a constant airflow through the unit, drawing air up and out through the vent stack. This airflow maintains a partial vacuum in the toilet, which guarantees odorless operation.
Want more proof? All of Sun-Mar's composting toilets are tested and certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, and the NSF will only certify composting units that produce no odor. To check for yourself, see Sun-Mar's listing on the NSF website.
3. Where can a composting toilet be installed?
Anywhere you need a toilet. Composting toilets are very popular in cottages, cabins, pool houses, boat houses, and garden sheds. They can also be used in park shelters, remote offices or dormitories, barns, and security posts. Composting toilets are also frequently used in primary residences, in areas where there is a water shortage, or for those who simply don't want to spend the money to put in a septic system. A composting toilet can even be used on an RV or boat!
4. Is it easy to operate? What kind of ongoing maintenance is required?
Sun-Mar composting toilets are very easy to operate. For ongoing operating, all you need to do is add bulking material such as Compost Sure or Compost Sure Blue (a mixture of peat moss and hemp stalk that helps maintain the right balance of carbon and nitrogen in the compost) to the toilet on a daily basis. The amount of bulking material to add will vary depending on the type of unit you have, and your Sun-Mar product manual will have specific details. Every 2-3 days while the unit is in use, pull out the recessed handle and crank it around, which will rotate the inner drum. If you're only using the unit on the weekend, simply rotate the drum when you arrive and again just before you leave. The most important part of these regular maintenance procedures is that you never have to come into contact with the waste inside the toilet. Sun-Mar systems are specifically designed to be user friendly and require no direct contact with the compost until it is fully finished and sanitized.
