On the grounds of De Helleborus, there are 5 ‘unisex’ (gender-neutral) compost toilets. Two of them are located at the beginning of the site, near the entrance and reception. The other three are at the far end, next to the campsite kitchen (also toilets).
A compost toilet at De Helleborus has the following features:
- – Dry – No water is used for flushing, but instead sawdust and wood shavings. Of course, regular toilet paper is available and can be used.
- – Urine separation – The liquid urine and solid waste are separated by the toilet itself and immediately directed to containers so that our compost toilets do not produce unwanted odors, and the waste can later be used in a composting process (read more below).
- – Gender-neutral – We do not distinguish who uses the toilet. Everyone can use any toilet, provided it is not occupied, of course. 😉
Closed Loop
Because we prefer to keep the cycles closed on our property, we use both the urine and the solid waste to make compost that we can use to grow trees, plants, and of course, our food in the vegetable garden. In English, compost made from animal waste is called ‘manure.’ When compost is made from human waste, it is referred to as ‘humanure.’ 😉
Because we receive many guests at De Helleborus, composting the urine and waste on-site provides us with more than enough compost to maintain one hectare of land each year.
Compost Tea
In the toilet, the urine is collected separately in a container, which is removed daily. The collected ‘fresh’ urine is centrally stored and allowed to break down for 1 to 1.5 years in an IBC tank (per 1000 liters). Hormones, microbes, drug residues, and other unwanted substances are broken down into increasingly smaller, harmless residues. Afterward, it is diluted with between 4/5 and 9/10 parts water. This mixture is also called ‘Compost Tea.’ Urine contains almost the same nutrients as artificial fertilizer, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—substances on which plants thrive. After about 2 years, we can use this ‘Tea’ as liquid compost and apply it diluted to the soil (not on the leaves) in the vegetable garden, for planting, or for fruit trees.
The Black Gold
The solid waste, also known as the ‘dry matter,’ is collected in 60-liter barrels, which are then sealed airtight and stored for about 6 months. The airtight sealing creates an oxygen-free (anaerobic) process, also known as fermentation.
After this anaerobic composting, the barrels are emptied onto a special compost heap where, over another 1.5 years, microorganisms convert the waste into compost in the presence of oxygen (aerobic). After about 2 years, this process results in beautiful, deep-black compost, with no trace of what it originally was.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!