| Anyone who's ever traveled by RV knows what an | | | | outside the RV. |
| unpleasant job it is to empty and clean the waste | | | | Maintaining a composting toilet on an RV is as simple |
| holding tank. Furthermore, improper maintenance of | | | | as adding some bulking material (usually a mixture of |
| the holding tank can lead to real problems down the | | | | wood chips and peat moss) once a day and rotating |
| road--no pun intended! What if there were a better | | | | the drum every few days. Rotating the drum usually |
| alternative? For many RV owners, there is. | | | | consists of pulling a retractable handle out from the |
| Composting toilets are an odorless and easy | | | | front of the toilet and cranking it around a certain |
| alternative that require very little maintenance and | | | | number of times. At no point does the RV owner |
| never need pumped out. In this article, we'll explain | | | | have to come into contact with the contents of the |
| why a portable composting toilet may be the answer | | | | toilet; in fact, everything about owning and |
| you've been looking for when it comes to your RV's | | | | maintaining a composting toilet is cleaner and more |
| waste disposal system. | | | | pleasant than dealing with a holding tank and |
| Traditionally, recreational vehicles have more than one | | | | pump-outs. Because compost toilets are designed to |
| holding tank for wastewater. One contains gray | | | | handle all waste self-sufficiently, you never have to |
| water, or the wastewater from the sinks and | | | | worry about hook ups or pump outs. |
| shower. The other contains black water, or the | | | | The primary job of a composting toilet is evaporation. |
| wastewater from the toilet. There are separate | | | | These units are designed with a heating element in |
| hoses for each tank, usually designated by different | | | | the base and a fan assembly in the vent to aide with |
| colors, as well as yet another hose used for pumping | | | | evaporation. Since more than 90% of human waste |
| clean water into the RV. For obvious reasons, it is | | | | is actually water, very little material is left to compost |
| critical not to get the hoses mixed up and use the | | | | once the liquid is evaporated. In fact, two people |
| incorrect one for the wrong purpose. | | | | using a composting toilet on a daily basis would |
| Maintaining the black water holding tank is a | | | | probably only need to empty the finished compost |
| somewhat complex process, involving chemicals and | | | | once or twice a year at the most. Finished compost |
| cleaning agents to prevent odor and bacteria buildup | | | | is usually kept isolated from fresh waste by dropping |
| or other clogs inside the tank. What some RV | | | | into a separate drawer or chamber in the toilet. All |
| owners don't realize is that you should never attempt | | | | this occurs without the RV owner ever coming into |
| to dump the tank until it's at least two thirds full. A | | | | contact with the material until it's fully composted. |
| tank that's only slightly full won't have enough | | | | Once it is fully composted, you're left with material |
| gravitational pull to empty efficiently. Furthermore, | | | | that is completely non-offensive. It will look and smell |
| you should never leave the hose hooked up while the | | | | just like ordinary garden soil. |
| vehicle is parked, because it won't drain the way | | | | If you're wondering by now why you haven't heard |
| toilets in your home will. | | | | of this before, it may be because of the cost. The |
| If you're tired of dealing with emptying, maintaining, | | | | only downside to mobile composting toilets for RVs is |
| and cleaning the holding tank, there is another | | | | that they usually cost around $1,500, significantly |
| alternative that is still relatively little-known among RV | | | | more than a traditional toilet with holding tank |
| owners, and that is the composting toilet. Contrary | | | | system. However, when you think of the ease of |
| to what some might think, composting toilets are an | | | | use and the average lifespan of these systems of |
| odorless and very clean method of waste disposal. | | | | about 15 to 20 years, the benefits may outweigh the |
| Mobile composting toilets feature a rotating drum | | | | cost. For more information on composting toilet |
| inside the toilet itself that holds and processes waste. | | | | systems, seek out a reputable dealer that can |
| A special venting system and filters ensure that the | | | | provide you with details, including product testing |
| unit operates without odor from both inside and | | | | reports and certifications. |