Composting toilets

Oct 10, 2022, 15:52 PM
Title : Composting toilets

What are composting toilets?

Composting toilets receive and treat human waste using natural decomposition processes, usually without the use of a water flush system.

Some composting toilets have electric or wind driven heating/drying units to assist with the process

A well maintained composting toilet should not smell or create a nuisance.

Wastes are retained for a sufficient period of time so that they are broken down to a safer, more stable and less offensive product.

This material is not sterile and should be handled with care.

Material from composting toilets must be buried and is not permitted to be used for the growing of fruit or vegetable plants

What are the conditions of approval?

Each composting toilet has a set of conditions of approval available from the Department of Health, and the manufacturer will also be able to provide information on the operation and use of their systems.

Systems vary in their size and whether they are approved for permanent or intermittent use.

Some composting toilets can accept food scraps in addition to human waste, as this may assist in the composting process, but not all systems can do so.

Familiarise yourself with the list of approved products.

What are the system arrangements?

There are two basic system arrangements. Some composting toilets are batch systems while others are of a continuous composting design.

The continuous system generally has a large single chamber which waste moves through as it decomposes. They are designed to allow for a minimum detention time to allow wastes to break down before the compost is removed. They should not be overloaded.

The batch systems have more than one receiving receptacle, and more can usually be obtained if required. When the receptacles are full, they can be removed for the composting period or rotated.

What is the process for installing composting toilets?

System installations are only permitted with local government or Department of Health approval. The Department of Health assesses larger development proposals.

 

If you wish to install composting toilets and associated greywater systems you need to lodge an Application to Construct or Install an Apparatus for the Treatment of Sewage with the Shire. This is to ensure that the systems are of an approved design and manufacture, are properly sized and suitably located.

For more information, please read the Guidance on Applying for Department of Health Approval of an Onsite Wastewater System.

It is an offence to install a wastewater system without an approval and it is also an offence to commission a system prior to a final inspection and approval to use from the local government.

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