Toilet Tech Sustainable Outhouse Tour

Video Tour Timeline:
--------------------------
1:52 First look at urine diverting toilet pedestal
4:34 Gravity fed, foot operated, hand washing stations
10:10 Decomposition chamber
11:23 In line septic tank
12:27 Cleaning the urine collection pan
16:25 Demo of toilet using "pee" and "poop"
18:00 Cleaning the conveyor belt
19:32 How to dispose of the decomposed solids
21:09 Slide show of construction photos

We did an exhaustive search among all known outhouse systems in an effort to identify the most environmentally responsible option that would also provide a non-objectionable user experience. We discounted port-a-johns, pit privies, vault toilets, and most composting toilets for various reasons and settled on the Urine Diverting Dry Toilet (UDDT) sold by Toilet Tech Solutions. We believe it is the easiest toilet to use, the most sanitary option (cleanest and least smelly), and the most environmentally sustainable option available for an off grid outhouse.

Unlike most so called composting toilets, Toilet Tech is careful to make the distinction that their UDDT facilitates decomposition and not composting. There are no claims that the solid end product will be usable as compost. Instead the entire design is intended to divert urine from the feces so that natural decomposition of the solids can take place over time. As soil microbes digest the solids they outcompete pathogenic bacteria and the total solid volume decreases to roughly 25% of the original volume.

Because urine is diverted, no bulking agent is required. The user simply steps on a heavy duty foot pedal to convey the feces into the decomposition chamber via a conveyor belt. Few instructions are needed to orient new users to the toilet. It is used in much the same way as a flush toilet: sit (or stand), eliminate into the bowl, toilet paper goes into the bowl, no bulking agent is needed, “flush” by pushing the foot pedal 5 times. The feces exit the outhouse through a hole the back wall and are conveyed into a ventilated decomposition chamber. Weekly maintenance can be completed in less than 15 minutes and is done from the “clean” side of the wall.

At first glance the Toilet Tech UDDT seems similar to some composting toilets. Depending on the model, composting toilets may or may not divert urine from the feces. Composting toilets require the addition of a carbon-rich bulking agent in volumes 3-4 times greater than that of the feces and urine collected. The bulking agent is intended to prevent sludge formation and anaerobic conditions in the collection chamber, but it also requires that the chamber be emptied on a regular basis. Despite their name, composting toilets do not permit conditions that would result in a pathogen-free, stable compost end product. Creating stable, pathogen-free compost that can be safely used as a soil amendment is not a simple task. It requires a 1-4 week period during which the biomass pile reaches and maintains a temperature of at least 130 degrees F (but not more than 160 degrees F) followed by a months-long period when less heat is generated and the nitrogen in the biomass is fixed. Composting toilets are not capable of accommodating this process given the small batches, continual additions of tainted biomass, and limited time before the chamber needs to be emptied.

If the contents of composting toilets are spread prematurely in the environment they can contaminate surface water and cause disease. If the contents are taken to a facility to be composted correctly (or taken to a landfill to be buried), the added bulking agent makes a biohazard waste that is many times greater in volume than the original urine/feces. In contrast, the uniquely effective urine diversion technology of the Toilet Tech UDDT allows the feces to decompose to roughly 25% of their original weight/volume. The decomposition chamber is sized such that it will not need to be emptied for 10-20 years, and when emptying is needed, the volume removed will be about 1/40th that generated by a composting toilet of equivalent use.

[ladymusic]

Have you thought of placing a worm bin where the solids fall? Worms will eat feces and toilet paper, which will also help with preventing bugs and pathogens.

[wendycc]

A rain-barrel would be useful attached to the gutter to collect water for reuse.

[seanlupardus]

Wow, great build and done right. That's coming from a plumber! I'm going to install this exact toilet system on my off grid property! Thanks, I really appreciate your effort and simple explanations of the build process. God Bless

[yolandazhong]

This is the best solution i have ever seen on the internet so far!

[anneoconnorao]

You are a beautiful teacher, thorough and easy to listen to! Your outhouse is the most technical and rustic making it pleasing to the outdoorist! Nicely done!! If there were awards to be given I would nominate you or vote for your design, execution and tutorial!! Bravo!!

[HeliPadUSA]

Also the waste chamber should be sloped so no "raking" is required from below the conveyor belt. I've seen several old timey pit toilets have two compartments and one is sloped to a deeper area so it naturally fills up first.

[chrisamar]

This excellent video on his off-grade outhouse was done over a year and a half ago. People have asked comments about freezing temperatures and the author of the video obviously has decided not to answer questions. I myself have been thinking of an outhouse on my off-grid property and this gives me some interesting ideas. For me at the southern edge of the Adirondack mountains freezing is definitely an issue. But I am appreciative of the information and the video and the time to produce it. Thanks.

[bradleywhite]

Excellent! Best off grid waste management system I’ve ever seen. Well done explaining the build. Going start saving for one myself:) respect….

[TheKnightsShield]

You could also make a pedal operated soap dispenser, rather than having to push down on the plunger with your hands, so that the whole hand washing process is handsfree.

[WhatDadIsUpTo]

I got this beat by miles. I do both (#1, #2) in a FREE food-grade repurposed plastic bucket and FREE wood shavings from my farm. Mine is portable, NEVER smells or attracts insects, compost everything down to "soil" and works ANYWHERE inside or outdoors. Did I mention it was FREE?

[hipdogdsv]

This is the best outhouse/composting toilet video I have ever seen. I love your set up. I'm going to try to do something very similar. I'm living in my unfinished tiny cabin and do have a flushing toilet but I poop outside in my make shift outhouse until I decide for certain how I want to build it. I really like everything about your set up. I do compost my solid waste with dirt and worms. No smell at all.

[YukonianOrangutangInSpace]

Amazing craftsmanship. Based. 10/10 would utilize this outhouse.

[karlau]

Excellent video, thank you. Well thought out, detailed, and easy to follow.

[exploringwithrune]

Amazing... Best off grid toilet I have ever seen, that is as close to a "normal" toilet as possible. Good job and good video 👍😀💪

[lightowl]

That is the fanciest most technical outhouse I've ever seen!

[menw]

Thomas Crapper would be proud of this ingenious solution!!!

[shelleybayless]

This is absolutely beautiful, and fascinating! I love how every detail was carefully considered. I would’ve liked to see a shower, but I still love it.😍👍

[Rusty_Nickle]

Looks awesome. You could put a fitting on the end of those faucets and slow the water down it doesn't need to be flowing that fast just to wash your hands. Might save you some tank filling

[patty]

This is by far one of the nicest out house I have seen for off grid living. Well done.

[elwendiguy]

This is a great alternative. What was the total cost?