Sustainability and the smallest room

Headquartered in Bedford, Dunster House is one of Britain’s biggest producers of timber garden buildings; it numbers outdoor toilets among its special lines. The company sees its “Eco Compost Toilets” as an alternative option for use in the garden, where it allows for human waste to be recycled into compost and fertilizer. Company director Chris Murphy believes that there are many potential locations where these waterless toilets could be the solution to the lack of sanitation. “Without the need for water, our composting toilets offer a sustainable solution for many rural or remote locations where sewer and water connection is too expensive or unavailable, such as in allotment gardens,” he explains. The toilet has been designed to separate waste so that it can be collected for recycling if the correct procedures are followed. Two waste collection bins are located under the toilet. Once the first bin is full, it can be swapped for the other one to allow for the drying process to take place. Urine can be diverted into a separate container or into a soakaway outside the building. “Urine is high in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. If diluted correctly it can be used as a valuable fertilizer supplement for growing plants. Faeces can also be reused if dried long enough to eliminate pathogens.” The manufacturer supplies the outbuilding with 12V solar lighting and aluminium bulb holders for use throughout the day. Connection to a battery is also possible, though that is not included. The 15 Watt solar panel can charge the battery to allow for using the toilet at night. The kit includes a urinal, a hand wash basin and a toilet lid with a rubber seal to minimize the development of odours inside the building. Download: