THE SUNMAR COMPOSTING TOILET

Of all of the “green” systems in use in the cabin,

for vacationers who have vacationed only in the urban U.S.,

the composting toilet generally takes the most getting used to.

National and state parks often use composting toilets,

and many homes in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe also use them. 

If you have never used one, you may have questions such as those here.

What is a composting toilet?

The SunMar composting toilet is a self-contained toilet which does not use water to dispose of wastes.   Instead, wastes are transformed by heat, microbial action, and air acting on the wastes and additional compostable materials added to the toilet each time it is used.  When the material is completely composted (“finished”) it can be used to enrich soil for ornamental plantings or safely buried in the forest where it enriches the soil available for plant growth there.  We currently bury the finished compost in the forest in different places under the loam/leaf mulch layer so it will enrich the soil for the trees and plant life.

Microbes that transform waste into usable enriching compost flourish in the right moisture and temperature.  The heater in the toilet is constantly on, at a low rate of electric power usage, to keep the compost active.  

Why a composting toilet?

Ecologically, a composting toilet makes the best sense at this site at this time.

The cabin is built along one of highest ridges on the property.  The water supply comes from underground springs that have been developed where they exit from the side of the mountain below the cabin.  Although county approval of a site for a septic leach field is in place (where liquids would be allowed to seep back into the subsoil after solids have decomposed in a septic tank), constructing the field will disturb a large area of the forest floor.  Additionally, water flows downhill, and although county engineers state that the waste water would be absorbed or dispersed well above the level of the spring, there is always a chance that waste water could eventually contaminate the drinking water supply. 

Because some urban vacationers have expressed concern over their ability to manage an appliance with which they are unfamiliar, we may eventually add a “flushing” septic tank toilet system to the cabin.  At that time, we anticipate that we will move the composting toilet into an independent “bunkie” structure that would sleep 2 people, elsewhere on the property.

Is the toilet actually an “indoor outhouse”?

No.  The toilet is inside the current bathroom, not outside. It is self-contained - there is no outlet to the out of doors inside it.  It is simply a modern appliance that uses science and common sense, and does not use potable water (water that is suitable for drinking) to flush away wastes. 

Will there be bad smells from the toilet?

If the toilet is properly reactivated at the start of a vacation, used according to directions, and if the prior vacationers have also followed directions, there should be very little odor from the toilet.  The microbes have a distinctive scent, not unpleasant.  The exhaust fan that carries odors out of the toilet is constantly “on” at a low rate of energy usage. Any odor should be barely noticeable, and only when you are standing beside the toilet or using it, provided you follow directions for using the appliance.

Is the toilet easy to use?

It is.  Like most systems in non-urban settings, it requires a bit more care and attention than systems used in “city” homes.  Green systems generally require more thought, a bit more care and attention to detail, than their city counterparts.  We provide complete directions to you when you first ask about our cabin, and again when you confirm a rental.

And we are available by telephone to help if you need more information before or during your stay.