Composting Toilet Dumping: A Complete Guide to Responsible Emptying and Composting

Are you looking for methods to responsibly dispose of composting toilet waste? Do you want to know the most useful and safe ways to utilize it? Then, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we discuss everything related to compost toilets and their effective dumping. 

If managed correctly, composting toilets produce a safe and nutrient rich composted material that can be used for improving the health of your soil and garden. Utilizing your waste for this purpose is the best option and, if your local regulations allow it, you can empty your composting toilet material when fully composted into garden beds and dig the material through the soil. If you are in a van or RV, you’ll need to find a government approved facility and ensure you have met the requirements of the local regulation. 

What is a Composting Toilet and How Does It Work?

A composting toilet, including popular models like Nature’s Head composting toilet (our pick for the best overall composing toilet), is a modern take on an age old technology, that transforms human waste into a compost material. Rather than directing waste to a sewage system or septic tank, composting toilets collect waste and through natural processes, allow it to decompose into fertile compost.

Understanding the basic principle of a composting toilet

There are a few variations on the theme, but the basic approach is to install a toilet pedestal in a room above a composting bin, which might have ventilation and drainage of liquids. Each time the toilet is used, an organic material such as saw dust, leaf litter, coconut coir, or similar, is scooped in covering the deposit. The compost may be turned over, if the system has functionality to do that, and over time the material breaks down through biological processes to a safe and usable compost.

Many composting toilet systems also involve separating liquid and solid waste. There are separate compartments to handle pee and compost pipe differently. Keeping the compost urine free which assists with the process and prevents odor. 

Understanding the basic maintenance of a composting toilet

Compost toilet systems require regular maintenance, including emptying of the compost chamber. Knowing when it’s time to empty a composting toilet is crucial. Mismanagement can lead to odors, and ineffective composting. To avoid issues its usually best to empty out the system regularly and ahead of time, but with sufficient time to allow composting.

For toilets with a separate urine chamber, emptying this may be a daily routine.

You’ll also want to clean the system to keep it hygienic and functional. This may mean washing the compost chamber bin between uses to remove stuck material, rinsing a urine container and disinfecting the toilet seat.

Depending on the system, you may need multiple bins so that you can swap them out and leave the out-of-service bins composting somewhere out of the way.

What to do with the compost waste after it’s emptied from the toilet?

After you empty your composting toilet, ensuring responsible disposal, or reuse of the composted material becomes your priority. 

There are several options and the best one for you will depend on your situation. Each option will have a different environmental outcome, and your decision here will depend on if you’re after a convenient solution, or one that works in with your broader, gardening, sustainability, or permaculture goals.

Reusing or disposal? What should you do with your composting toilet waste?

One can either reuse the compost in the garden or dispose of it in public disposal facilities and landfills. 

Well composted human waste, with appropriate additions of an organic material such as coconut coir, is in-fact a fabulous, nutrient rich compost which can be ideal for growing plants. It this sense, think of it as a resource, not a waste product. Reusing composting toilet waste is closely aligned to the principles of permaculture and can greatly improve sustainability of your property. 

By utilising it, you can make your garden more productive. But you are dealing with human waste and there are health issues that must be managed safely. Before using it, ensure that the material is fully composted and has no resemblance to what went in the toilet in the first place. It should be rich, dark looking compost material. You must also adhere to the local regulations.

If gardening is not an option, there are other options to dump the composted material. There is typically a local waste receival facility or landfill available that you may use.

The impact of compost toilet waste on the environment

When managed properly, compost toilet waste can be a sustainable fertilizer source, beneficial for the environment. However, if not managed correctly, introducing a nutrient rich fertilizer into the environment can foster disease proliferation, weed growth and ground-water contamination.

As per the comments above relating to reusing composting toilet waste, ensure that the material is fully composted and if you use it in the garden, remember that it will encourage plant growth, which may include unwanted weeds. Use it in an area that you will be managing. Don’t just dump it into the environment and leave it. And perhaps spread it or apply it on a rotation across different managed areas within your garden, as new bins become fully composted.

Vegetable patches

A common use for compost toilet waste in the garden is on vegetable patches. The enriched compost serves as a natural fertilizer, promoting healthy plant growth and high productivity. However, there are risks involved and as such, this is not our recommendation.

The composting process breaks down human waste through biological processes. If done correctly, there will be sufficient heat generated and time to kill off the unhealthy micro-organisms and bacteria and the material will become safe to handle and use. 

However, as we’ve discussed, there are health risks associated with the reuse of composting toilet waste, and given the many variables at play, we recommend avoiding its use on edible plants.

Public disposal facilities and landfill

If you prefer not to reuse the composted material, disposal at public facilities or landfills is an option. These facilities will also require the material to be fully composted and safe, otherwise you may need a sewage receival facility.

Contact the local government authority and ask where the best place is to dump your waste.

How Often Should I Empty a Composting Toilet?

The frequency of emptying a composting toilet depends on a variety of factors and lifestyle choices. Let’s discuss this.

Identifying the right time to empty

Observing various factors and staying attuned to signs like unpleasant odor, or a full-looking compost chamber, is necessary to identify the right time to empty your compost toilet.

Factors to consider:

• Bin Capacity: The key factor will be the size of your bin, and how long it takes to fill. Its usually best to install a larger bin, if possible, but remember, composted material is heavy and the larger the bin, the harder it will be to move around. 
• Frequency of usage: With higher frequency usage, expect to empty the toilet more often. The supplier of your system, or the design of your DIY composting toilet system, will dictate how much usage you the toilet will handle, but we always recommend going bigger if possible. Typically, you will plan on emptying (or changing the bin over for off-line composting) on a monthly or bi-monthly routine. Some systems will allow you to leave it 3 months or more.
• Liquid and solid waste ratio on emptying frequency: Again, this depends on your specific system. Most permanent installations will have a liquid drainage; but if you don’t, as soon as liquid builds up it will need emptying. 
• Organic material additions: Organic material additions like sawdust, peat or coconut coir help breakdown waste. The type and amount added will bulk the compost material differently and can affect the time between compost emptying. Your system will have specific requirements around this.
• Climate: The time it takes to decompose waste material, and produce a healthy and usable compost, depends largely on the temperature. You can of course artificially heat compost, but this is expensive and complicated, and most people won’t bother with that. So, you’ll probably be dependent on the weather. Warmer climates compost quicker than cooler climates and will therefore compost quicker. Your bin size will dictate the frequency of swapping bins, but ideally you should size the bin based on the compost rate. 

How van life (and RVs) influences compost toilet maintenance

In van life and with RVs, the size of the composting compartment may be relatively small in order to save space. This results in a more frequent need to empty the composting toilet. Unless you’re in a very warm climate, you may find you are emptying un-composted material. Have a read of our article Van Life Composting Toilet Options (And Other Great Choices) for more information on this.

The Legality of Dumping Compost Toilet Waste

The legality of dumping compost toilet waste is dependent on the regulations of the area you live in. As a responsible citizen, it’s important to dispose of human waste in a legal, environmentally conscious manner.

Laws vary by area, some areas allow composted human waste to be used as fertilizer in the garden, while others do not. It is essential to check local laws and guidelines before choosing your disposal method.

Books and Resources on Composting Toilets

The first place to seek further information will be the composting toilet’s manufacturer’s guide. 

There are also many great resources available online and one the best, that we are happy to recommend is “The Humanure Handbook“. This book by Joseph C. Jenkins provide extensive information on compost toilets and is a truly fascinating and entertaining read. Check it out on Amazon here.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

A Final Thought

Choosing to use a compost toilet is an exciting decision and one that will help you achieve your water efficiency and sustainability goals. But why not also take advantage of the nutrient rich fertilizer product that you will be generating. As we’ve discussed, this is very achievable, if you manage your system correctly and follow the local requirements.

If you choose not to use in on the garden, there will be a local facility that is able to receive your waste material. 

FAQs

Q: How do you use a composting toilet and how often should you dump it?

A: Using a composting system isn’t too different from using a traditional toilet. The main difference is in the maintenance, and in particular, managing waste. Solid waste goes into the composting bin chamber, while liquids are either drained away (from the bottom of the chamber) or are diverted into a separate container. How often you need to dump a composting toilet depends on the use and the model of the toilet. However, as a rule of thumb, you may be emptyping your composting bin every one to two months. You’ll need to figure ensure it is fully composted first, and therefore you may need off-line bins to continue composting before you empty them.

Q: What is the best way to dispose of a composting toilet’s waste?

If managed correctly, composting toilets produce a safe and nutrient rich composted material that can be used for improving the health of your soil and garden. Utilizing your waste for this purpose is the best option and, if your local regulations allow it, you can empty your composting toilet material when fully composted into garden beds and dig the material through the soil. If you are in a van or RV, you’ll need to find a government approved facility and ensure you have met the requirements of the local regulation. 

Q: How do you dump the composting toilet waste on the ground?

A: If you intend to use the composted material on the garden, you’ll need to ensure it is done safely. It can take up to a year for the pathogens to die off in composted human waste, and if not handled correctly, handling it can make you sick, or it can leach into the ground and contaminate the environment. Ensure that the material is fully composted and then, subject to local regulations, you may be able to dig it in to the ground.

Q: Is it legal to dump composting toilet waste in any outdoor setting?

A: The legality of dumping composting toilet waste will depend on local laws and regulations. In general, it is not legal to dump human waste in public places. Always check with local authorities or at your campsite before disposing of waste from a composting toilet.

Q: What should you do with the pee or liquid waste from a composting toilet?

A: The best course of action for liquid waste or “pee” from a composting toilet is to empty it into a traditional toilet or a designated dump station. It should not be dumped on the ground. You should also check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Q: What to do if your composting toilet doesn’t compost quickly?

A: Composting toilets typically rely on a certain balance of moisture, temperature, and the right mix of materials (such as peat moss). You may need to adjust the balance if composting doesn’t seem to be occurring fast enough. Consider adding more composting-friendly materials or consult the manufacturer’s guidelines for further help. You may need additional bins so that they can continue to compost off-line.

Q: Is a black tank and a waterless composting toilet the same thing?

A: No, they are not the same thing. A black tank is used to store waste in traditional RV systems before it’s dumped at a designated dump station. A waterless composting toilet, on the other hand, uses no water and composts solid waste within the unit itself.

Q: What are the benefits of using a composting toilet in a tiny house?

A: Installing a composting toilet in a tiny house has several benefits. They save water, avoid the need for a septic or sewer system, and create usable compost. Additionally, they can be used when off-grid or in places where traditional toilet systems aren’t available.

Q: How to empty our compost from a composting toilet?

A: Emptying compost from a composting toilet usually involves removing a bin or trash bag of composted waste material from the unit. Depending on the design, some will need a special compostable bag while others have removable bucket or bin. Always handle waste using gloves and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Once done, it is good practice to wash the components and disinfect.

Q: How do you adjust the composting process within the toilet?

A: Adjusting the composting process in a composting toilet will depend on the particular model. Generally, you might need to add bulking material, like peat moss, to control moisture levels, and ensure the unit is in a place with the right temperature for composting. Always refer to the specific guidelines provided by the manufacturer for best results.