Composting Toilet Systems        

A composting toilet is a treatment system for toilet wastes that does not use a conventional septic system. Composting toilets were originally developed in Scandinavia where topsoil suitable for conventional septic systems is not available. A composting toilet is basically a warm, well-ventilated container with a diverse community of aerobic microbes living inside that break down the waste materials. The process creates a dry, fluffy, odorless compost, similar to what's in a well-maintained garden compost pile.

The compost in a well-built chamber does not smell. Rapid aerobic decomposition - active composting - which takes place in the presence of oxygen, is the opposite of the slow, smelly process that takes place in an outhouse, which works by anaerobic decomposition.

A well-built composting toilet has three basic elements. A place to sit, a well-vented composting chamber, and a bin supplying earth, sawdust, ashes or other high carbon-content bulking agents. This bulk soaks up excess moisture, makes lots of little wicks to aid in evaporation, and creates air passages that prevent anaerobic pockets from forming.

Since these toilet systems are not yet legal in Montana, we will keep you updated as to what we can teach and demonstrate.

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