Kimberley KARAVAN 2021, Installation, Maintenance & Operating Manual

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52 ©2021 Kimberley Kampers Manufacturing Pty Ltd
Composting Toilet
How often to change
The waterless, urine separating design contributes the extraordinary holding capacity. The composting section
holds approximately 60 to 80 uses. Once you get the procedure down and aren’t having to clean up a mess
because of too-watery coconut, it takes about 30 minutes to change it.
The time frame to empty the solids bin varies with number of people and the time period. The toilet is designed
for 1 to 5 people full-time. Generally, two people full-time people’s usage will require emptying approximately
every 3 weeks; additional people will shorten the time. If using just on weekends with 2 people, that can extend
time to 2 months or more. Just a couple of days of non-use extends the period of time. Usually, the level of the
compost will not increase; if it does it will be minimal.
The urine bottle holds 6 Litres and will require more frequent emptying; two people might need to empty after
3-5 days.
People ask about the “yuck” factor of dealing with emptying the urine bottle and changing compost. You will
fi nd both to be far less objectionable than emptying a chemical or maceration toilet. Replacement seals and
valves also cost considerably more than the coconut you use. Finally, dumping urine or changing coconut are
relatively quick jobs compared to the alternative.
Composting Medium
Before use, it is necessary to add compost material to the base of the unit. You can buy
this in a “brick” form. Large zip plastic bags are an inexpensive manner for storing the
medium.
To fi ll your toilet or refi ll it after emptying, place one brick in a bucket or zip bag and add water for it to soften
and expand. Drop this softened material (sphagnum peat moss or coconut fi ber) into the base of the toilet.
The sphagnum peat moss should rise to the level of, or cover, the agitator bar in a horizontal position.
The sphagnum peat moss should be damp and crumbly, never wet or soupy. If your sphagnum peat moss or
coconut fi ber is dry, add a small amount of water. When not in use, the lid of the toilet should be in the closed
position, preventing the entry of insects and allowing proper ventilation. The peat moss must be regular/
organic sphagnum peat moss, no additives.
DO NOT use MIRACLE-GRO peat moss.
Adding used coffee grounds results in added moisture and keeps the compost loose so that it mixes better.
Do not add additional medium after solids usage. Doing this will result in too much sphagnum peat moss or
coconut coir in the unit and will limit your time of usage before emptying.
First off, it’s important to know that coconut “coir” is preferred as the “composting medium” compared to peat
moss. Coconut is easily renewable (it’s coconut husks) while it takes millions of years for peat to form.
Coconut coir has to have water added to it and then be crumbled up before use. It expands tremendously
as water is added. So here’s the dilemma: add too much water and you’ll have a foul seepage around the
crank handle; don’t add enough and it will absorb water from the waste deposits and expand and overfi ll the
compartment so that the handle won’t turn.
Use just 1 cup of water per 1 kg brick , and initially fi ll the composting bin about 50mm short of the agitator .
It’s also important to use less coconut in the initial fi ll than peat moss, as coconut swells as it absorbs water
and peat doesn’t.
IMPORTANT!
The primary concept of our composting toilet is the separation of liquids and solid wastes! Be sure
to inform your guests as to the proper use of your unit. This will allow proper composting action
and assist your guests in feeling comfortable with a new piece of equipment.
Allowing the overfl ow of urine into the composting chamber will cause unpleasant odor and
prevent proper compost action.