Nature's Head Composting Toilet: How It Works

Understanding the Basics

Nature's Head Composting Toilet is a self-contained, waterless toilet system that utilizes the natural process of composting to break down waste material. It is designed for use in various settings, including off-grid cabins, tiny houses, recreational vehicles (RVs), boats, and remote cottages. The Nature’s Head Composting Toilet offers an efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional flush toilets that rely on copious amounts of water and sewage systems.

How the Nature’s Head Composting Toilet Works

• Separation of Urine and Solid Waste: One of the key features of Nature's Head Composting Toilet is its separation design. When using the toilet, users deposit urine and solid waste separately. A urine-diverting feature directs urine into a front holding tank, while solid waste is deposited into a composting chamber at the rear of the unit.
• Ventilation System: Proper ventilation is also crucial for the composting process. Nature's Head Composting Toilet comes equipped with a 12-volt fan and a vent hose, which create a continuous flow of air through the composting chamber. This airflow helps control odor and promotes the decomposition of waste.
• Decomposition and Composting: In the composting chamber, solid waste mixes with a bulking material, typically coconut coir or peat moss, which aids in the decomposition process. The controlled environment, combined with the presence of beneficial microorganisms, accelerates the breakdown of waste into nutrient-rich compost.
• Regular Maintenance:Users need to perform periodic maintenance to ensure the Nature’s Head Composting Toilet to operate efficiently. This includes rotating the composting drum to mix the contents and adding bulking material as needed. The front urine container also requires emptying when full.

How to Use the Nature’s Head Composting Toilet

The Nature’s Head Composting Toilet is totally user-friendly! All Nature’s Head Composting Toilets are designed to ensure a sustainable bathroom solution that works everywhere! With it’s smart, waterless, urine-separating feature, the Nature’s Head Composting Toilet can handle approximately 60 to 80 uses before needing to be emptied. That holding capacity really impressed me! 

Before You Start using your Nature's Head

You'll want to add some compost material to the base of the unit before you begin. We recommend storing your medium in gallon-sized resealable bags for convenience. To fill your toilet or refill it after emptying, simply pour two one-gallon bags of pre-moistened sphagnum peat moss or coconut fibre into the base. The peat moss should reach the level of the agitator bar when it's in a horizontal position.

Keep the peat moss damp and crumbly, not wet nor soupy. If it's on the dry side, just add a bit of water. You can use a spray bottle when making the medium moist. This will help in controlling the amount of dampness of your medium. When the toilet's not in use, make sure to close the lid to keep insects out and maintain proper ventilation. Remember, the peat moss should be regular/organic sphagnum peat moss with no additives. Avoid using MIRACLE-GRO peat moss.

Use caution in adding your medium. Remember to not add more medium after using the solids section, as it can lead to too much peat moss or coconut coir in the unit and limit your usage time before emptying.

Separating Liquids from Solids

The primary idea behind the Nature's Head Composting Toilet is separating liquids from solid waste. Make sure to educate your guests on how to use it properly. This ensures effective composting and helps your guests feel comfortable with this eco-friendly toilet.

Letting urine overflow into the composting chamber can cause unpleasant odors and disrupt the composting process. I would try and avoid this of course. Luckily emptying the urine compartment is pretty easy, and you can always purchase a second urine compartment to switch it out if you are close to being full but not somewhere you can empty it quite yet. 

It is very much recommended for you to sit when using the Nature’s Head Composting Toilet. Whether you're male or female, using the toilet while seated ensures that liquids and solids go where they should. The trap door can be open or closed while seated. If you're using the toilet standing up, remember to keep the trap door closed to prevent mixing of liquid and solid waste.

Toilet paper can be placed in the toilet, but keep in mind that it decomposes more slowly than solid waste. So, it might be visible for a while even after the solid matter has broken down. Any type of toilet paper is okay; thinner brands, like marine or RV paper, compost faster.

I would definitely avoid placing diapers, wipes, or tampons in the solids bin. Many of these items are made from a mix of non-organic materials and can't decompose.

Daily Refresh of your Nature's Head Composting Toilet 

To keep your Nature’s Head Composting Toilet clean and fresh, most users keep a small spray bottle filled with a mixture of water and 2 oz of white vinegar handy to spritz the bowl if any solid waste sticks. Spraying the bowl also helps keep the urine passages clean.

To avoid urine odors, some people suggest adding a few ounces of white vinegar or a few drops of your dishwashing soap.

After you go #2, agitate the composting process by give the compost medium a gentle 2-3 revolutions to mix the waste in. Keep the contents of the solids bin moist but not wet, and ensure they stay separated from the liquid waste.

You should smell dirt, not sewage

When your toilet is functioning correctly, the composted matter will have a musty or soil-like smell and will visually resemble the original sphagnum peat moss. This indicates healthy composting. If you notice your compost is really wet or smelly, just add more moss or coconut coir and agitate it again and you should be good to go!

We at Wild Oak Trail decided to get ourselves our own Nature's Head Composting Toilet to see what the fuss is all about! Check out our YouTube videos as we explore why the Nature's Head Composting Toilet is the favorite of the preppers, adventure seekers and the RV living community!

Of course if you have any questions at all about setting up your Nature's Head Composting Toilet, or maintaining it, or checking to see if it's working correctly, give us a call, chat in or email us at Wild Oak Trail! 1-844-WILDOAK (1-844-954-3625), www.wildoaktrail.com or customersupport@wildoaktrail.com