The Straight Poop - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Mark V · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Straight Poop

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I watched a documentary on a family that was trying to be as "green" as possible with their off the grid home.

They had a composting toilet...his one statement convinced me that composting toilet is not the way to go. He said " at first there's no smell, then after awhile there's always a smell but you get used to it". That convinced me composting was not the way to go.

The govt agency I work for has some remote sites where they have incinerating toilets...I've only used them a couple of times but noticed a definite smell in the enclosed toilet room of burnt ash. I'm not sure how well cared for the toilets are so if regular emptied mayb the smell would not be there.

Dumping the black tank is not a big problem as long as you have good connections and a good sewer hose. We dump ours about every two weeks or once a week if we have guests. There is no smell while dumping if you have a properly sealed sewer connection at both ends. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes. Water is usually not an issue (dump station water or full hook ups) unless you are long term boondocking. All total it takes about 2 gallons to flush out a properly maintained black tank.

-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 13th of February 2014 03:56:19 PM

-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 13th of February 2014 03:56:44 PM

Mark V · RV-Dreams Family Member

Most of the videos I've seen by actual owners have employed units with fan powered vents to the outside that run constantly, and they all claimed that there was no odor. I'm guessing that the only way to really find out is to give it the old "sniff test" myself.

DebbieM · RV-Dreams Family Member

Check out Nikki and Jason Wynn, gonewiththewynns.com they have just added a composting toilet last summer.

Gary · RV-Dreams Family Member

Don't know if I'd want the hassle of having to dispose of the composted material. Some areas, from what I've read, frown on just releasing it into nature or a dumpster since it is still human waste.

The incinerator, once again according to research, seems to have a bit of a "stink factor" associated with the incineration process but it is all reduced to ash which can be disposed of in your normal trash.

Both are good concepts which also have their own problems. If I were refurbishing an RV, I'd probably go the incinerator route mainly due to potential disposal issues.

-- Edited by Gary on Friday 14th of February 2014 07:29:17 AM

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'll be installing a Nature's Head composting toilet in our Mobile Suites next week :) Should be interesting.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've done some extensive hanging out with some fellow RVers with a composting toilet in their small 22' Airstream. Have even used it ourselves. No smell at all.

We're... intrigued... by the idea. My biggest hold back is the time period before replacing the compost in which you shouldn't use it for at least 8 hours... and having to dump a pee container every 2 days somewhere. We did a year with no toilet facilities on board at all, and I kinda grew tired of constantly dumping such a container.

And it seems for 2 people, the composting is good for about 2-3 weeks before needing to be changed. Which isn't an overly huge of improvement over our 10 day black tank capacity.

We're in the 'maybe' category.

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes, those are a few of the nuisances that held me back for a while. The big advantage I see is not having to deal with the black tank. Although the frequency of dumping is not improved, the convenience of not having to use a dump station is huge for us. Plus, no more unsanitary hoses, sewer flies, fan back draft, etc.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I had a Sun-Mar in my camp......

if you go with a non-electric model you will end up with odor......if you go with Electric you have fans to deal with.....these things break and will......composting requires Temperatures to be reasonable....if there not , you have a whole nother mess to deal with.

this is a definite on the fence type decision.

Me personally...the dump station every 2 weeks or so during boondocking is a whole lot easier to contend with...Besides your going to have to go to the dump station anyways to dump the grey tank!!....so dont get rid of those rubber gloves and hoses yet....(you cant dump it any other way)

Billy Bob · RV-Dreams Community Member

After reading these posts I think I will stick to just dumping my black water tank