FAQ's

We hand-craft our portable composting toilets and showers using as many recycled and reclaimed materials as possible at our rural property in North Canterbury, New Zealand.

These units can be safely moved around onsite by two or more people, or transported to a new location on a standard trailer - so even if you move to a new piece of paradise, these units can go with you!

As long as we've been involved in the installation process, we're happy to offer a two year warranty on any parts we've provided. Unfortunately we do still have to charge for travel and labour to replace these as we've got some very remote installation sites around New Zealand!

As with all building projects in New Zealand, it's generally up to the land-owner to obtain consent. Rules differ from council to council so we recommend checking in with your local authority. Because these units are designed for portability these aren't intended to be a permanent residential solution, but we're happy to discuss your needs and work out a solution that's right for you.

We haven't had one go yet, despite setting up in a few very windy spots! The wooden base is heavy at the bottom which prevents it being blown over, but we can also add extra stability by putting pins in the ground and strapping it down.

We request a minimum three week turnaround as we make our units to order. In practice we will often take bookings for build slots during a given month so you can get a clear idea of when your unit will be ready. Delivery arrangements are in addition to this - we often try to bundle orders together for delivery in similar areas as this lets us pass the savings on to you!

Our units are dry composting toilets, otherwise known as waterless composting toilets. They work by collecting waste and filtering it to separate solids and liquids. Once full, waste barrels can be sealed and left to decompose until the contents can be safely used as compost.

Our system is designed to separate solid and liquid waste straight away. Because you're left with solid waste and sawdust, it is almost completely odourless.

Our portable composting toilets measure 2200mm high, 1200mm wide, and 1000mm deep.

We supply 2x 60 litre barrels with installation. In our experience, a two-person household using one of these units as their primary toilet will take approximately 2 months to fill a barrel. After around 3 months the contents of the barrel can start composting on its own. This decomposition process can sometimes start to smell in which case, simply remove and seal the barrel before replacing it with the other supplied barrel. This is about a 5 minute process.

We've found that barrels will start composting within approximately 3 months. Within a year, the waste level has reduced down to a third of its original size and is usually safe to use as compost.

A five minute, no-fuss process makes it a piece of cake to switch barrels. We provide a full demonstration on changing out the barrels on our units when we install the composting toilet. It's designed to be quick-change and easy to use. Once the barrel is swapped out, seal it and replace it with a new barrel. Next time you go to change a barrel, the previous one can be emptied onto trees and flowerbeds as compost, cleaned, and then the lid used to seal the most recent barrel.

Because we separate solid and liquid straight away, a barrel of compost is usually made up of more sawdust than waste. We recommend leaving the sealed barrel to compost for a minimum of 6 months - many sources prefer to leave them for a year. You can add vegetable waste or composting additive at the 6 month mark to speed up the process. Our customers have reported good results using the resulting compost on trees and flowers. Alternatively, you can visit a waste treatment plant for disposal.

You'll need: A clear 2x2m space: ideally flat and shaded from sun and wind, with no loose topsoil

Good excuse to roll out the waterblaster if you like! Barrels can be hosed out or waterblasted once emptied. The inside of the unit itself can be waterblasted inside or wiped down like a traditional toilet. These units stay very tidy if taken care of.

No problem - a $1000 non-refundable deposit will secure your spot and make sure you don't miss out on the next round of builds. Have a chat with Yanis and the team about your timeline and needs.

We'd love for you to let us know as early as possible what your requirements are so that we can meet your delivery timelines. We usually have a build queue of a month or two, with delivery in addition to this. We often try to bundle orders together for delivery in similar areas as this lets us pass the savings on to you!

As our units are built to order we generally do not have them readily available on hand, please contact us through the form on the website and one of us will be in touch with you to confirm the details. Once the deposit is paid your unit/s will be added into the queue to be built and we will let you know an estimate for when it will be delivered to you!