OWNER'S GUIDE
BEFORE USE
Before using your new Nature's Head toilet, place 2 gallons (2 zip-lock gallon bags) of pre-moistened peat moss or coconut fiber into the base of the head. The peat moss or coconut fiber should be damp and crumbly, never wet or soupy. If your peat moss is dry - try adding some water to it. The primary concept of the composting toilet is the separation of liquids and solid wastes!!
Be sure to inform your guests as to the proper use of your Head. Seated usage is recommended. While seated, you can use the unit with the trap door in the open or closed position. Male or female, the liquids and solids will be directed to the right locations from this position. Male stand-up usage is less acceptable as splatter may result.
In the event that the unit is used in a standing position, the trapdoor must remain closed in order to prevent mingling of liquid and solid wastes. For solid usage, a coffee filter may be placed into the bowl; this will facilitate movement of the waste into the base of the unit and may allow ease of cleansing. Many people choose to use the unit with the trapdoor open (negating the need of coffee filters) allowing solids to be deposited directly into the composting medium. How you use it is a matter of preference, but remember, the more paper products placed in the compost, the sooner it will fill up. Also, paper products do not break down as fast as solid wastes, so typically you will see them long after the solid matter has broken down. We keep a small spray bottle filled with water near the Head to spray off the bowl. Some water in your peat moss or coconut fiber will not hurt it, and it will help keep it moist. While everyone's urine has different smells (some stronger than others) - we have found that if we put some brown sugar in the liquid tank it will help to reduce this odor.
After solid waste addition, the peat moss or coconut fiber must be agitated 2-3 revolutions in order to mix the waste into the compost to promote the composting process. Contents of the solid waste container must be kept moist, not wet, and remain separated from the liquid waste. The composted matter will have a soil-like odor and the visual appearance will be very similar to that of the original peat moss.
EMPTYING
The liquid waste vessel will contain approximately 2.2 gallons of urine. The translucent material of the container allows easy visualization of the liquid level.
To empty the container: 1) Release the latches located at both front sides of the unit which secure the bowl to the base. 2) Raise the bowl to an angle of approximately 45 degrees, install the cap, and remove the bottle. 3) Dispose of the contents in an appropriate manner. We carry ours to the marina restroom and empty into the marina toilets.
Should overflow of the liquid waste container occur - the liquid will remain confined to the container base so long as the overflow is not excessive.
Solid wastes should be removed from the storage base when the tank appears to be 3/4 full. As with any composting unit, the longer you let it sit before you empty it, the more the solids will have decomposed, and the more pleasant this job will be. If you empty it after a short waiting period, you will notice that the paper products are still mostly intact. It takes considerably longer for paper products to break down.
One of the nicest things about composting toilets (unlike other toilet systems) is that the longer you wait - the better the job will be. With the bottle assembly removed, lift the seat unit several inches and slide it to the left to disengage the slip hinge. (You may need to unhook your vent hose and power supply if you need to set the bowl off to the side) Remove the knobs from the mounting brackets at each side of the base and invert to empty. (Most 13 gallon tall kitchen garbage bags will fit over the base to allow for easy disposal.) It is unnecessary to cleanse the interior of the solid waste container as composting will continue from the residual matter clinging to the sides. Peat moss is easily storable in one gallon zip-loc bags.
The recommended procedure for disposing of the contents of the solid waste tank is to place it in a composting bin to allow it to fully decompose. The contents of the solid waste tank may be safely placed into a conventional dumpster if it has been allowed to compost fully and is bagged and sealed. If stored for a period of three months or greater the contents may be used to fertilize non-ingestible plantings.
CLEANSING & MAINTENANCE
A quick spray of water from a squirt bottle is all that is needed to keep your Nature's Head fresh between uses. If necessary, a moistened paper towel (no synthetics) is excellent for cleansing the interior (as well as the exterior) of the head. After cleaning, add the towel to the contents of your solid waste container. If the towel is 100% paper - it will compost with the other solid wastes.
For more intensive cleansing or dried-on matter, a paper towel moistened with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water may be used, and disposed of, in the same manner after cleaning.
Bleach, ammonia, and other commercial cleaning compounds should never be added to your composting head as they will interfere with the composting process and may lead to unpleasant odors.
Maintenance requirements for the head are very minimal. All metal parts (bolts, hinges, latches, knobs, agitator, and trapdoor components) are either stainless steel or brass. Filters on each side of the base should be removed and cleansed yearly or when emptying the solid wastes. Each filter is secured to the housing with 2 Phillips-head bolts. Remove bolts, clean and replace.
