How much maintenance is involved with a compost toilet?
It very much depends on the model and type of compost toilet you are using. The larger toilets we sell, like Kazuba, are designed to be very low maintenance, but in order to achieve this, they are physically larger, need more work to install, and are more expensive.
We’re happy to talk to you about the maintenance involved on any of our systems, but here’s a brief summary:
Separett and Air Head are typically compact, urine-diverting toilets. The solids container will need to be transferred into a compost bin when required. On the Tiny, this can be after 15-20 solid (poo) uses, depending on the amount of toilet paper used, and on the Villa and Air Head, this can be after up to 60 solid uses. Models that capture the urine in a container, will need that container emptied in an appropriate place regularly (ideally every day).
WooWoo GT is available in two capacities and the starter kit will container two containers – one ‘in use’ and one ‘composting/resting’. The 120-litre unit will need to be swapped at around 200 solid/poo uses and the 330-litre can take up to 800 solid/poo uses. The amount of urine use generally doesn’t affect the overall capacity. Actual capacity will depend on the nature/frequency of use and the amount of wood shavings used. Leachate (liquids run off) can usually be run into a soakaway pit, but in places where that isn’t possible, it’s captured in a container which will need emptying when full. Swapping the containers over will take up to 15 minutes.
Alectura has a maximum capacity of 90 litres per chamber and as with the WooWoo GT, two are supplied. Every week, the owner/operator should use the supplied handle to rotate and mix the contents of the chamber. This will level the heap and aerate the contents, promoting better composting. When the ‘in use’ chamber is full, swapping the containers will take up to 15 minutes. The Alectura comes with a custom designed trolly to help move them around and lift with minimal effort.
Kazuba has the lowest maintenance requirements. Generally, the ‘baskets’ will need swapping every six months. This involves moving the ‘in use’ basket to the rear of the Kazuba so it can sit and dry in the air flow. The empty basket slid over the other one, into the ‘in use’ position. This will take up to fifteen minutes. Depending on the amount and frequency of use, the Kazuba may require a pumpout empty every few years, although many users don’t need to do this.
