How to Build a Composting Toilet
January 11, 2010 – 11:58 pm by MarinaHanes
There are several benefits to having a composting toilet, and although there are pre-made ones, you can construct one on your own. Building a composting toilet is less hassle than you may think, and less money too. All you need are some basic materials, and you have to know how to use a screwdriver.
Materials
18’’ x 18’’ piece of .75’’ plywood
18’’ x 3’’ piece of .75’’ plywood
Two hinges
Two .75’’ x 10’’ x 18’’ boards
Two .75’’ x 10’’ x 19.5’’ boards
Four .75’’ x 3’’ x 12’’ boards
Toilet seat
5-gallon bucket
Instructions
- Cut a hole in one of the larger pieces of plywood so that the 5-gallon bucket fits. Then hinge this piece of plywood to another piece. This will enable you to lift up the top piece of plywood so you can remove the bucket.
- Build a box by screwing the four boards together. This will be the base.
- Attach the four boards so that they go through the top of the plywood. These will be the legs of the toilet.
- Place the toilet seat over the hole and drill it into the top piece of plywood.
This is a simple composting toilet, but if you’re comfortable with carpentry, you can make it more convenient and stylish. Even with a little varnish, you can improve the look of your composting toilet.
Don’t forget to create an area outside where you will be putting your waste from the composting toilet. The compost will need to be monitored, so it’s helpful if you have a compost thermometer to ensure that the environment is suitable for the bacteria to break down.
