Ventilation: Key Ingredient for Composting Toilets
Transcript copyright earththrives.com

Jonathan:

There is a need to have directed flow of air through it for odor control and for moisture control. The moisture of the heat, the pile, it’s called is needed to be controlled.  It can’t get too moist or it doesn’t molder; it just kind of gets sticky. Air is the friend of any biological process and it needs air that the ventilation system gives it.

That is done with plastic pipes: 4-inch plastic pipes. I’m planning places for things like the chimney and a possible masonry heating stove. Masonry heating stoves are good because they have a fairly steady source of heat and that can be used for very good affect for ventilation and a steady source of heat. Some people put fans in them.  I myself am going to try to do without needing electricity. The fan is another pretty sure way to control airflow. But some of us feel that, like, it is more fun to work without electricity.

 Hey, Jeremy, good slab, good slab.  It’s nice and level. It’s working good.

Carlyn:

Is that important in a moldering toilet--that it’s level?

Jonathan:

I wouldn’t say that it’s more important than for any other kind of building.  It’s just nice for the mason.  Masons like to have things level.  But I would say the evaporation all happens best if the floor is level and, as I said, the air flow and evaporation is important. It’s a good part if this process.