Composting loo

1. Update (5/10/24)
2. How to use the loo
3. Background
4. That was then, what about now?
5. Help needed

Update (5/10/24)

Our composting toilet is now back in use (5th October 2024). One wheelie bin has been upgraded with drainage, a sub-floor, aeration, and a secure lid. In the spring, we will convert another couple of donated wheeliebins. They can then be used with the composting loo.

How to use the loo

The toilet is an all-in-one system (no urine seperation) so it’s vital to add a scoop of sawdust every-time you visit (for both No.1’s and No.2’s!). Once the wheeliebin container is approx 3/4 full, we take that bin out of use and then change it for an empty bin. Once full the wheeliebin is moved to one side, the lid locked and the bin marked with the date. Bins are then left to compost for 12-18 months. We also add a layer of bedding from our wormeries ontop. Built in aeration ensures optimum aerobic composting conditions.

• Use the toilet as usual. It has a conventional seat and lid.
• Used toilet paper can be put in the toilet.
• Lift the lid, clean the white plastic urine separator, spray with the disinfectant and wipe with tissue.
• Lift out the white plastic urine separator and sprinkle a scoop of sawdust over the contents of the bin as a cover layer.

We have a number of other modifications to carry out. We are recruiting a team of site leaders to help maintain the loo. They will also show site users how to use the system. We’ll be adding information posters. A ‘toilet log’ (pun intended) will help us track when it’s been maintained. This will ensure we keep it in tip-top condition!

Background

In 2018 Meadow Orchard Project received a grant from Span Trust to build a composting toilet! That’s the plywood shed that greets you as you enter the gate! Pride of place right?

Spam Trust aims to assist economically deprived communities by working with their members to improve and regenerate their local built environment, leading to greater well-being and enjoyment of their surroundings. The trust was eager to support the project. They therefore supported the installation of an eco-toilet at the Meadow Orchard Project in Crouch End, North London! The purpose-built composting toilet was a key improvement to the site’s prior facilities.

That was then, what about now?

Six years passed, and we saw a real uptake in volunteers and site users. The prior wheelie-bin system couldn’t really meet demand anymore. We are currently making modifications to the loo so it’s better, brighter, and more sweeter smelling than ever!

We currently have a group of volunteers on site on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Thanks to a generous donation by our amazing song group, we can quickly obtain the materials we need. This enables us to get started on the modifications! Hoorah!

After a General Meeting, we decided on the best way to proceed. We retrofitted a new (reclaimed) wheelie bin. It has a subfloor made from heavy duty 6mm reinforcing mesh. We will also use landscape fabric and capillary matting to aid aeration and drainage.

We will create a bay to manage excess leachate. This will be made from reclaimed fence spikes, fence posts, and floorboards. The bay will also handle any contaminated water from cleaning the toilet and urine separator.

Help needed

Would you be free to help make the modifications to the new bin so we can reopen the loo shed?

On Saturdays:

• Fit drainage fitting, valve and filter to new bin. One wheelie-bin converted (3 more to do)
• Fit padlock hasp and chain to secure bin during maturation. One wheelie-bin converted
• Cut close fitting hole in lid for waste pipe.
• Add aeration fittings. One wheelie-bin converted
• Make template for subfloor and cut mesh. Subfloors for two wheelie-bins made
• Cut drainpipes for aeration.
• Fit aeration pipes. One wheelie-bin converted
• Lower ground under wheelie-bin to locate bin centrally under plywood toilet box – Started – to finish
• Modify lid to plywood toilet box top so that opening is central to wheelie bin. Done
• Fit waste pipe to urine tank.
• Label bin for identification during maturation.
• Dig pit to fit tank for leachate collection.
• Dig shallow woodchip soakaway, source timber and build compost bay for urine and leachate.

Ongoing

• Site leader training for those on the toilet maintenance rota.
• Establish a rota to refill water containers for handwashing (currently potable water is brought in from offsite in blue 25l containers)
• Collect coarse sawdust / wood-shavings to use as a cover material – Yeats in Waltham Abbey or other supplier.
• Maintain a compost toilet ‘log’ (pun intended) to ensure bins are matured for required period.
• Plant around woodchip bay, willow, comfrey etc.
• Build a barrier to close off human waste area around bays and area behind compost toilet. These could be woven hurdles, willow screens, greenwood post and rail etc as desired, whatever our creative volunteers imagination can muster!
  

The above actions will help establish a safe method of composting waste. They prevent the material from potentially becoming anaerobic. These actions also help reduce smell. The resulting compost will not be used directly on food crops, annuals etc, but as a mulch for trees and ornamental plants as well as green manures.

If you have ideas or suggestions as to how to develop the current composting loo, please feel free to send us an email. The initial actions will enable the toilet to be put back into service, there are many other methods to compost waste, pee bales, tree bog, reed bed etc, which potentially could be explored at a later date too!