Composting Toilet

The garden’s composting toilet, located on the east fence between the shade garden and the rock garden, is a waterless, eco-friendly, and odor-free unit that requires no sewage connection. It was first installed in 2012 and replaced in 2022.

 

Instructions for use (posted in toilet shed)

1. Use the toilet

2. If your deposit was solid, add a scoop of compost mix.

3. Turn the drum once or twice

4. Clean up after yourself

 

Please remember:

• Use only toilet paper. 

• Don’t put paper towels, diapers, feminine hygiene products, or baby wipes in the toilet.

• Do not add plastic, glass, metal, cleaning fluids, or cigarettes.

• Add scoops of composting “bulking” material and turn clockwise as directed.

• Supervise children when using the toilet.

 

How It Works

The composting toilet works by separating urine from solid waste and using aerobic bacteria to decompose the solids into safe compost, without water or sewage connections. It relies on a carbon-rich bulking agent (like sawdust), ventilation, and evaporation to eliminate odors and break down waste in a, typically, vented, two-chamber system.

 

Liquids are emptied every few days; the solid compost is emptied every few weeks or months, depending on use. The resulting material is usually safe to dispose of or, if fully matured, to use for non-edible landscaping. For more, see Sun-Mar Self-Contained Composting Toilet Manual.

 

General cleaning of the WC is on the list of every monthly garden clean-up—and tasks are easy for any gardener to undertake:

• Cleaning the site (i.e., sweeping out the cobwebs 

• Sweeping the floor, emptying the trash bin) 

• Cleaning the toilet just as you would at home

• Maintaining and checking supplies (refilling the composting mixture bin, monitoring toilet paper and paper towel supplies)

 

How to Help

To help with maintaining the composting toilet, contact Karen Flora at kdflora@verizon.net.or Patty White at pwhite1@swarthmore.edu.