Composting head vs classic head

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by Davy J

You didn’t mention which brand you have. I have a Natures Head. I also had some gnats and flies get in a couple of times. What worked for me was to cover the air vents with a fine mesh screening, much finer than regular screen. Haven’t had a problem since.

Sounds like a very workable answer. Don’t let the critters in, or let more moisture out.

I have yet to install any vents in 6 years of use. One day I will install the little muffin fan I bought, to blow drying air into the solids bin, since removing odors have never been an issue.

[Mike OReilly]

Yes, excess moisture can be a problem. We had one big infestation when, like fxykty, our venting fan had a problem. Still not sure why, but it died (we were off the boat). Came back to -- a problem . I ended up taking the whole thing out and scrubbing it down thoroughly. That got rid of the problem, and it hasn't surfaced since.

Minggat, you have a C-head? I've always assumed part of the success of that design is the fact that the catchment bins are about 1/2 the size of Air/Nature's, so your frequency of dumping is also about 2x. I assume this reduces the risk of any infestation getting started.

[Rohan]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

And If I'm anchored and want to stay put, I usually just find an out-of-the-way spot on shore, and bury it there. (Remember, I cruise in pretty remote areas.) Occasionally I've stored the finished product in a bin (bagged) for offshore disposal. Since the material looks, feels and smells like potting soil. And as Newhaul points out, it's a very small volume, so no big deal to have around.

Burying it in the ground is one thing, but putting human waste in trash bins? Is that legal? It may look like potting soil but it isn't. It's "night soil"!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Rohan

Burying it in the ground is one thing, but putting human waste in trash bins? Is that legal? It may look like potting soil but it isn't. It's "night soil"!

yes it is legal and much better and safer than baby diapers

[Minggat]

[QUOTE=Mike OReilly;3094302]

Minggat, you have a C-head? I've always assumed part of the success of that design is the fact that the catchment bins are about 1/2 the size of Air/Nature's, so your frequency of dumping is also about 2x. I assume this reduces the risk of any infestation getting started.[/

Mike,

The longer is sets, the dryer it gets. The dryer it gets, the less hospitable to gnats.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Nope, that and another few similar treatments were sufficient for a day or two, then the flies returned. Hence going nuclear to bleach clean everything. Sigh

the purpose of the Diatomaceous earth is to absorb moisture in the head so if its not working good you definitely have a high moisture issue . As others have suggested chef your ventilation .

[Phantom Jim]

It is legal to dump the waste if it is securely bagged so it will not be loose waste. I double bag mine for extra security.

[SV__Grace]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Nope, that and another few similar treatments were sufficient for a day or two, then the flies returned. Hence going nuclear to bleach clean everything. Sigh

DON'T BLEACH! That will kill the beneficial microbes that do the work of composting.

We've never had flies or excess moisture due to 3 features of the design of our Air Head-

1. Fine mesh screen over the vent hole on the side of the tank

(a minor maintenance item to pop it off and clean it now and then)

2. Vent hose leading to exterior clamshell vent (the most involved part of installation, which is easy to do)

3. Lastly, the above vent hose has a tiny in-line 12v fan ensuring continuous air flow from the vent hole on the side of the tank to the outside.

(there's also a fine mesh screen prior to the in-line fan and the vent hose pulls apart to clean that screen and inspect the in-line fan)

I believe the air flow is necessary for efficient composting, and without screens, bugs WILL find your toilet!

The composting area shouldn't be wet at all, and if so, it might need more venting or more coir (or peat or sawdust, whatever you're using).

[SV__Grace]

Originally Posted by Rohan

Burying it in the ground is one thing, but putting human waste in trash bins? Is that legal? It may look like potting soil but it isn't. It's "night soil"!

Rohan.... really? I'm disappointed by your response.

Is it legal to throw dog poop in the trash?

Would you prefer poop that has been dessicated, bad bacteria neutralized, broken up and encased in composting material that will continue to compost over time and enhance the soil, or raw poop?

Your response seems to assume we are putting raw, stinky, germ-infested poop in the trash, and that is NOT what's happening.

If done right, this is truly COMPOST. Understand that? It is FAR from raw poop.

However, when thrown away it is not compost that is garden ready; it would need a month or two in a compost pile for that, and I imagine (though I've never followed the garbage truck to confirm) that the composting process continues in the landfill.

For those who don't have a composting toilet I know it's hard to envision, but what makes a composting toilet actually compost is-

1. The filler material. We use coconut coir (@&100.00 per year for us), but peat moss or sawdust can be used as well, among other things. The equivalent in a garden compost pile (that we used to have when we had a house and yard) is mixing the organic materials- leaves, organic food waste, coffee grounds, etc. Just throwing leaves in a pile does not create compost.

2. Rotating the compost pile. Every time you use it (and some users do this more often) you turn the crank to rotate the contents to evenly distribute the filler and contents and allow air to reach more of the contents. In your yard you would use a compost bin and turn it regularly with a shovel.

3. Air circulation, beneficial microbes (and time) completes the formula to successfully making compost, in your composting toilet or in your yard.

[newhaul]

This is your troll warning . Trolls are abundant these days .

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Rohan

Burying it in the ground is one thing, but putting human waste in trash bins? Is that legal? It may look like potting soil but it isn't. It's "night soil"!

What newhaul and others said; yes, it is legal, at least anywhere it's legal to toss soiled diapers or used feminine hygene products. And lets not even get into the dog poop thing... What comes out of a composter, even one used full time, is far less offensive than any of these others.

Personally, I think dumping into a trash bin is the least desirable way to deal with the end product. I've only had to resort to this option a few times in my nearly 10 years with this head. But it's far less of a problem than many other categories of waste

[Minggat]

Wether you target composting or just desiccating, it’s far less ... unhealthy.. than wet sewage.

[Davy J]

Burying it in the ground is one thing, but putting human waste in trash bins? Is that legal? It may look like potting soil but it isn't. It's "night soil"!

This is what happens when people let government wipe their behinds.......
Go down to your local municipal dump, watch what is coming out of the trucks. Some dried out poop will be the least of your concerns........

[Mike OReilly]

I personally wish that urban marinas would develop compost collection systems, much like most have pump out systems. I expect this will begin to happen if, as it seems, these heads continue to increase in popularity.

[Davy J]

I’ll just add, you think burying it is fine, what do you think the government does with the waste in dumpsters? In most instances, they bury it.....