Composting Toilet

I am trying to lower my carbon footprint and I also think a flush toilet wastes way too much clean water! There are a lot of plans out there that show how to build a compost toilet and I was going to take ideas from several of them and combine them to build mine. I was struck between using pallets or buying plywood to build the box out of to mount the toilet seat, hold the bucket and urine diverter. Fortunately, I stopped in Goodwill on my way to the hardware store and happened by an end table for sale for $5. I looked at it carefully and determined it was almost perfect for my toilet. The pictures show the before and after. I was able to re-use this end table and didn't have to build a cabinet! I liked that!

The following steps and pictures show my progress

So begins the transformation. This project can use a regular 5 gallon bucket you can find almost anywhere. I am using a Tidy Cats Litter bucket but the principle is the same. I removed the doors and cleaned the entire cabinet inside and out. Then cleaned the doors and started painting the cabinet and the doors. I used spray paint to apply primer and then spray paint for first and second coat. The final coat was brushed on.

I just positioned the seat on where it would be mounted and drew the inside of the seat and the mounting holes. Drilled the mounting holes and used saber saw to cut out opening. Also cut a piece of scrap hardboard the same shape but about 1/2" smaller.

After mounting toilet seat to top, I slid bucket inside and set it where it would normally sit and left room for a rectangular funnel I am going to use as the urine diverter. Removed the top and placed a 1/4" piece of hardboard on top. Drew where the holes would be for bucket and urine diverter. Cut those out and cut the hardboard to fit under the top (last picture).

This step is only to help reduce smell (if any).

I sealed the doors and the seat. Ran garden hose from urine diverter to outside and will drain into a leach field along with shower and sink water.

I am using peat moss to cover up waste and toilet paper. This also eliminates odors. Every time the urine diverter is used, I spray a multi-purpose cleaner in it. This also prevents odor.

That's it! My composting toilet works great, there is no odor and I am not wasting several gallons of water every day. Hope you like my Instructable.