[Pil-pc-oceania] Roto-loo/clivus mulchrum feedback

[timwinton]

Hi Julie,

I have tried both and I don't really recommend either in terms of value for 
money. They both work, however the Roto-loo, in my experience here in the 
humid sub tropics, struggled to evaporate enough moisture to keep the 
compost aerobic and they don't seem to handle a very big capacity. The 
Clivus multrum works effectively, and we have used one at Permaforest Trust 
for nearly ten years now. We bought it because it was a council approved 
system. From memory it cost $2400 for the parts and then I had to construct 
a besa block chamber with platform on top to put the plastic composting 
chamber in and the dunni shack on. It took me a fair bit of labour to put 
the whole thing together as well. After I finished it, I realized I could 
have just used the besa block chamber and bought some flue pipe and other 
bits and pieces and it would have functioned just as effectively with half 
the cost. I have subsequently done this and my besa block composting toilet 
works just as well. The one thing I will say about the Clivus and Roto-loo 
is that they are rodent and fly proof (except if you leave the lid open) and 
this can be a very hard thing to achieve for novice builders of besa block 
type chambers. National Parks and the Road and Traffic Authority have chosen 
the Clivus Multrum as their preferred composting toilet system for public 
installations in this part of the world.

If I ever build another system I would use a dual chamber type. This is 
essentially two Clivus sized chambers in the same dunni. One is active and 
one is moldering (composting slowly) after it is full. This solves the 
problem with the Clivus where composted material at the bottom of the 
chamber is continually saturated with fresh liquids from above. I have never 
thought that this was particularly good design as the 'compost' from the 
system is always a potential disease vector. With the dual chamber system 
the compost that comes out after 3 or 4 months of processing with out being 
the active chamber is fully broken down without any fresh urine ect in it. 
Also the dual chamber can handle twice the load and capacity and it seems 
that most of the composting systems I come across are constantly on the edge 
of being overloaded.

If you are looking for ways to make composting toilets more palatable for 
the mainstream, then the dual chamber is much better as you are never 
dealing with fresh humanure, which seems to turn some folks off the Clivus.

Hope this helps,

Tim

--
Tim Winton
Permaforest Trust
Lot 3 Hidden Valley Rd
Barkers Vale, NSW
Australia 2474
phone +61 02 6689 7579
fax +61 02 9225 9536

www.permaforesttrust.org.au

Offering Certificate 4 and Diploma
in Accredited Permaculture Training


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Julie Firth
  To: pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
  Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 1:21 PM
  Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Roto-loo/clivus mulchrum feedback


  We are looking at purchasing a composting toilet system for use at the 
Drylands Permaculture Research Farm in Geraldton, Western Australia and 
would like to hear the cons from those already using them. As it will be in 
the public's eye we want an approved manufactured system that will convince 
people waterless toilets are clean and acceptable.

  I'd really appreciate feedback from people with operating Roto-loo 
composting toilet systems (and non-operating systems). Has anyone used or 
added the seperating pedestal? Did they make a difference to the composting 
speed or are they a marketing gimick? Are Roto-loo notorious for vinegar 
flies or is this something all composting toilets have..

  Has anyone out there tried both systems and ended up with a preference?

  Julie Firth
  Drylands Permaculture Nursery
  333 David Rd, Waggrakine
  Geraldton, W.A. 6530
  Tel. +61 (0) 899 381 628
  www.permaculturenursery.com.au


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