COMPOSTING TOILETS 101: Separett Review & How To Empty It 

I've used both the Nature's Head and the Separett 9215. I prefer the Separett because I don't have to buy peat, noir, or sawdust and those things take up space and also emptying the Nature's Head is a pain in the butt.

@@fgc-linux1650 Agreed! I can imagine. I have heard horror stories.

I currently use a DIY compost toilet (bucket system) I purchased the sunmar toilet for my tiny home build because it is the only commercial toilet approved for my county. After opening it, I promptly returned it. Its HUGE. I will just continue with the bucket system for now, someday when Im much older I may go to a commercial one again. Ive read conflicting reports on many of them about ease of keeping them clean, clog free, and dumping. great video tho! Thank you for sharing

I know not everyone can't have a water flushing toilet. But the reason a install one is because i couldn't do all that ..my wife is not Going to deal with it we get other people in ourvan that come visit I don't see my self moving other's people shit lol..so we install a full bath in our 170 extended with flushing toilet..we have huge water tank..because we take showers every day..we only use our van on weekends or short vacations. But because we want to feel like home our van is fully loaded..i want my wife to have every comfort that she has home To have it in the van..and we do feel like home but smaller. 😆 We have stove oven. Microwave Full bath refrigerator wacher dryer combo..nice little thing..for emergencies home stereo system And I do not drink alcohol but For visitors I have a beautiful bar But we pay a price for all that. Our van is huge parking in a regular parking is not possible Unless is a huge parking the van is a 350 daully 170 extended 😬 So you guys know. is big

@@davidramossalsologoporexse2469 Wow! That sounds pretty luxury for living tiny! :D I got rid of my washer dryer combo. I cant wait to get a van or rv for traveling!

Thank you for watching and appreciating them!! 😊

Haha, yes basically an indoor outhouse. Lol. But cleaner! The outhouse (some) uses water and chemicals if I'm not mistaken unless it's an offgrid one. I'm kind of newer to compost toilets myself. Ive never had any other one than the separett. I bet they're all a different experience! 😊🏡

Well?

@@jennyanimal9046 well what???????

Just put in a septic container underground. Costs $400 and then you can have it pumped every so often. Makes life easier.

Ya I'm just reading all this now & first thing I thought of with young couples moving in together and it sounds like a relationship killer! I'm perplexed that you can wash clothes take a shower but no one has figured out how to install a flushing toilet with a separate disposable container? Or if you're dumping it outside why Can't it be diverted to septic tanks located wherever you are? I guess you'd have to pay a disposal fee? I'm out on the tiny house thing! I'm sticking with my Apartment!

You're welcome! I have a couple other videos that explain some of the habits we have and how to handle them. Thank you for watching! I'm glad you appreciated it!

Thank you for that! I was really hoping it would help so I'm glad it has been helping others! You wont regret it if you go with this toilet! I have a couple more videos about my composting toilet that are also informative and may help! It may seem like the other videos would deter people from getting this toilet, as stated in some of the comments, but I still vouch for it and would recommend it any day! :D ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aA47SQ9UJQk.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-n6XS41NAqCs.html

Thank you!! Wow! That is something that is different and I havent heard of before! Installing a composting toilet in a regular house! And you are all set up with a compost system! When i get land I'll be doing the same with a composting system on the land. I LOVE your idea about a "night soil" pick up from places that dont have a way to dispose of it.

Sure thing! :) Thank you for the appreciation!

You're welcome! Glad this will be perfect for your off grid cabin! 😊

Awww, thanks! And thanks so much for your support and watching! :D

It is my pleasure! Thanks so much for watching and finding it helpful! Thats my goal! :D I hope you have a great week as well!

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed!

You're welcome! Glad it helped you! 😊

Awesome! And Thank you for watching!! 😊

You're welcome! I personally see more pros than cons once you get past the tedious things that need to be done. Currently, I'm planning on renting out my tiny house on wheels and it was suggested that I get a regular flush toilet installed so I recently did that. When I move back into the tiny house, I'll use the compost toilet again.

Thank you very much! 🙏😊

Haha!! Thank you!! 😊

Thank you for appreciating it! 🙏😊❤

Thank you so much for that! :) It is an amazing option for anyone not wanting to waste water! Or like in your case there is no main drainage!

Glad you enjoyed!

You're welcome! And honestly, thank you for appreciating it! 😊🙏

Absolutely! Glad it helped! :)

YES!! It really is so simple! :D I Love it, too!!!

I'm so glad you enjoyed! 🙏😊 Thank you for watching!

Thank you so much! Me too, I Love the Separett Composting toilet!! 😍

You're welcome! Glad it helped!! 🙏🥰

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!

You're welcome! Thank you for watching! Glad it helped! 🏡❤😊

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful! 😊

Thank you! :) I believe mine is 5' x 8'

Awesome! I'm so glad you think so!! You thinking about a Separett? 😊

You're very welcome!

Thank you! Oh that's great! I think you'd love it 😊🏡

My pleasure!! It looked easier to me than that Natures Head so it was a winner in my book. Still is!!

You're welcome! I'm glad it will help!

Thank you!! Your sounds interesting too...I havent heard of a 3 or 4 bucket system before! :D

Absolutely! Im glad you enjoyed! ❤️😊

The urine is diverted out the bottom and I have a hose connected into the sewer. The other options for urine diversion with this toilet are diverting it into a hole of rocks to filter it or to connect to a grey water tank and empty it regularly. I preferred not having to empty anything. 🙂

@@TinyDreamer you might have wanted to mention that in the video. Js.

@@ducksinarowpatience3670 yes, I realize that now. Maybe I'll redo the whole video but better. Even now I hate that the music us loud. Lol (Different editor back then)

@@TinyDreamer 🤭

Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed!

Oh nice! I recently put my tiny house on Airbnb so i switched out the compost toilet for a regular flush for the guests. When i move back in, I'll switch it back.

Thank you! Glad it was informative! I personally thought the natures head looked scary to me because I dont have the strength to lift that big thing by myself so the Separett was the way to go for me! I have 2 more separett compost toilet videos coming up in the coming weeks/months! Stay tuned...TONS more information! 😊

Tiny Dreamer Im scared it doesn't work for a woman......especially for one who cannot control their business sometimes it's both at once?

Since I put my house up on airbnb. I actually took the compost toilet out and but in a regular flush toilet for the guests. But once I move back in. I would like to put the compost toilet back in.

Thank you! :)

If you have any other video ideas, let me know and I'll add it to the list!

That sounds amazing! I'm slowly working towards offgrid although I may never get there. Solar has been a thought, though! I just got a compost bin for my waste for this toilet. Have yet to set it up but I'll finally be doing it the way it's supposed to be done. 🙂

You're welcome! Thanks for the compliment!

My pleasure! Glad you found it helpful. Your idea sounds like it would work!!

Thank you..glad you thought so! 🙏🏡😊

The urine is stubbed it the bottom of the tiny house and can be dealt with in 3 ways...you can attach it to a holding tank for gray water, you can attach it to a sewer or septic system or you can create somewhat of a french latrine and drain it through rocks and such.

Absolutely!! :)

Thank you so much!!

Thank you always for your support Kelli! :) Yea, I didnt want to have to clean that plastic tank out. Thank goodness sewer comes with my rent so why not use it!

@@TinyDreamer oh you're so welcome!! And yes I think this is the way to go. I'm not grossed out by things but I'm also clumsy and just seems like less ways for me to have an accident haha! Use that sewer, girl! :)

@@Seashellsbytheseashore21 you know it!! Haha! 😂

Thank you!! 😊❤🏡

@@TinyDreamer It's time for your monthly maintenance video right??

@@zeninme7980 Well, I dont post a new maintenance video each month....my "monthly maintenance" just told that I'd be doing those specific maintenance things monthly. 😊 I wouldnt have enough things to maintenance if I did one each month! Next video will be posted on March 10th. I'm doing every 2 weeks.

@@TinyDreamer Oh..sorry..my bad. Thanks

You're very welcome!

Thank you! Yesss, solitary pagan here!!! 🌞🌙⭐ Merry meet & Blessed be! )O(

@@TinyDreamer Merry meet! Blessed be! ⭐️💖⭐️💖⭐️

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed! The liquid tube is stubbed out of the bottom of the house and diverted into the sewer with a connected garden type hose. You can also have the liquid run out into a hole full of rocks to filter it or buy a grey water tank and divert it into there.

@@TinyDreamer oh nice

@@TinyDreamer That's really smart.

@@patriciacole7976 Thanks! It was actually an idea from the actual separett compost toilet website. Lol :D

Thank you very much for that! I really appreciate you saying so 😊

Yes it is! I just switched out this compost toilet for a regular flush toilet to rent out on airbnb.

Thats excellent!! A step in the right direction. It doesnt stink all the time, no. Only really when you change it out since you have to open it and be exposed to the waste. Until then, yes, the fan works to start the drying process and pull out any smell while it sits there. The urine is stubbed out the bottom of the house and can go into a holding gray water tank, or it can be diverted into septic or sewer system or in some cases you can create a french latrine of sorts and filter the urine through a series of rocks and sands to allow it to go into the ground. I have done all these except the holding tank. In one place we even let the water run onto the ground but it did create a mucky mess so the rocks and sand filteation would have been better. Since this video, i have changed out the compost toilet to a regular flush toilet for now because im renting the tiny house on Airbnb.

I thought so too!! No lifting of a big bucket or toilet and no cleaning it out each time!

You're welcome!

Thank you! On average I would say a months worth is a good 5-15? lbs but honestly I've never weighed it. It's less heavy if you take it out more frequently.

@@TinyDreamer Separett should be cutting you commission checks. Purchased a Separett as your excellent video is very educational. You remove the stigma in dealing with a topic most people do not want to talk about.

@@2002drumsonly Omg, Thank you. That is such a compliment. I'm so glad viewers are more receptive to this video than not. Idk if you saw my other video where I talk about waste habits but that ones an informative one, too. Thank you for trusting my experiences and knowledge with this toilet! 🙏

Thank you so much!

No problem! Glad you enjoyed and hope it helped!

Thanks! Absolutely! One of the ways you can divert urine is stubbed out of the bottom of the house and can be diverted into a french drain. As far as dumping the waste, I dont say anything. I just throw it away like its kitchen trash. When I get my land, I'll be getting a composter for it all and reusing in my garden. I'm not sure why dry toilet waste isnt allowed in the trash because elderly and children's plastic diapers full of waste and animal waste in bags is allowed. 🤔

@@TinyDreamer thank you so much. I learned in "most" cases it's legal to dispose of 'solid human poo waste' in "most" trash receptacles. Ordinances differ by area - in general since we place diapers and most animal waste in bins it's not prohibited. Thanks again for your awesome review and feedback. Your video helped me decide to go with this unit vs. another popular brand. This works better for my needs. Luckily we have electricity, running water, and a french drain to accommodate the set up perfectly. :) Happy New Year!

This toilet has a blue pipe that is stubbed out of the bottom of the house. It can be drained into a french latrine set up, connected to a a sewer or septic or be drained into a holding tank..size of your choice, so you can dump it after its filled. I believe the toilet you're talking about is the incinerator toilet. I think theres one called Incinolet.

That's awesome! These toilets run about $1100. I imagine there are cheaper ones but this toilet is pretty nice. I recently switched the compost toilet out for a regular flush toilet so I can rent it out on airbnb. When I move back in I may or may not switch it back but I still have it.

I was emptying it every 3 weeks to 1 month. The compost bags say 3 weeks but since I was using plastic bags, I'd do it monthly. Since this video, I have replaced the compost toilet with a regular flush toilet for the convenience of my Airbnb guests. When I move back in I'll switch it back. When I do switch back I want to try to find a better way to compost the waste.

Hi Tess! Thanks so much for watching and subscribing :) That is awesome that you are going with a Separett composting toilet! They are amazing! To answer your questions: #1. There is an extra "lip" so to speak that can connect or disconnect from the toilet for people who have probs like you and I. I finally found mine 1 year later and am using it but I still have to use something else. So I use a large funnel and pee into it. The funnel part diverts the liquid into the drain where it's supposed to go. If you dont want to use a funnel, paper plates work just as well. Sit on the toilet blocking the back waste area...and hold the paper plate forward diverting into the drain, then pee. The plate can be saved for your next time or thrown away each time. That's why I got a silicone funnel so I wasnt wasting paper plates but my girl guests still use paper plates. I have had 2 girl guests use it and the paper plates. #2. If there is a big explosion situation, I personally do one of several things....1. have plastic store bags handy if you use them and when the situation calls for it quickly grab one and put it in the back waste section hanging into the handles. Go into it, holding the bag as closely to your bottom as you can so the explosion goes into the bag. Clean yourself up and tie the bag placing it in the waste section. 2. Just go in the waste section and clean up afterward...use disinfecting wipes or apple cider vinegar if you are more earth friendly. Next, use paper towels, toilet paper or other absorbing material and put it over the wet waste in the back. This will help absorb the wetter waste so theres not too much introduction of wet to dry in the waste area. Take out asap. You can wait until you have gone some more or you can take it out right away. If you wait the only problem might be bugs because of the wet waste mixing with dry or more potent odor from mixing wet and dry causing bacteria to form. 3. Go somewhere else. I have done this before thinking it would ruin my toilet if I got liquidy waste in the back. If you live in a campground go in their facilities. Go to a friends, a family members, a restaurant, outside if you have your own land, a store, etc. I personally fancy #1 or #2. No pun intended ;) Lol And last but not least #3. No man has ever used my toilet. One has asked but I didnt have an explanation as to how to use it. I think I'm going to take direction from another RU-vidr, Jenna from Tiny House Giant Journey and make an illustrated guide and put it at the back of the toilet! :D

Hey again! Was wondering if you noticed I made a new video to address some of these things! Not sure if you saw it or how your experience has been with the toilet thus far! Here's the link in case you havent and want to watch it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aA47SQ9UJQk.html

Thank you! 🙏❤

It differs on where you go. Some will throw it away in the dumpster. Although not really allowed to...elderly, children and animal waste all go in the dumpster so human waste shouldn't be any different..but it is fir some reason. The correct way to dispose of the waste would be to use composting bags for a 3 week period and then place the bag of waste into a personal outdoor dirt pile or compost bin. This toilet starts the composting process but you dont mix any pete moss or filler in it like the Natures Head Composting Toilet.

I live in a campground where we have worked out something. The night before the garbage arrives is when I'm to put it out so it goes right out the next day. Easy peasy! :)

" out of sight, out of mind. " ...not so easy down the road though, at whatever landfill it ends up in. depositing your poop into a plastic bag and hauling it off the landfill, seems like just about the most irresponsible way to deal with one's own waste. 😕 Definitely worse than using a regular flush toilet, where there is a sewer system that's actually designed to deal with such things.

@@aureas i thought the same, it doesn't seem right to trap ur waste in a bag that probably might never break down for the waste inside to decompose. And dumping it into a dumpster never sounded right, it could rip and then there's poo everywhere..feel sorry for dumpster divers. If you can go and dig ur waste somewhere in dirt would be more ideal i think.

Thank you! I do have an update..I just bought land and my plan was to compost the waste on my land in a compost bin. So I purchased one of those and when I start using the separett again (I'm on the land in the mobile home right now, tiny house is on land too on a foundation, I just haven't moved back in yet) I'll use the composter. 😊

Great question!! I would say it takes a good hour or two, honestly.. The smell lingers. Its not good. Even touching the bag on the outside, you have to wash your hands several times after. #compostingtoilet101 Lol. Did not expect or plan for those things!

I don't find there is an issue with that. I take my bag outside right away and don't leave it sitting in the house. And because the fan to the toilet is always on it draws out any lingering odours right away.

@@mytinybeachhouse2447 I'm finding that the smell is backing up due to a net and rubberband that is blocking some air flow. I had tried putting netting at the top of the pipe but when the guy was working on it it fell in the tube. Once I unblock that I will see what happens. Thanks!

She said when she empties it the smell lingers in the house for an hour or two.....I’m out!!!!

I think the space is narrow as well. It's hard to get in there to clean and it's hard to take the toilet apart in that small space. I'm wondering if they put the toilet in before they built a wallfor the shower..I'm not sure. As far as smells, It used to smell outside in the area that the vent was in so since this video I have routed the vent up 10 feet. However, now the vent fan isnt strong enough and the smell is coming back into the house so I have to get a stronger inverter to plug to a more powerful fan to be able to push the odors up 10 feet and out. Until then, I'm keeping the bathroom vent on, the toilet vent on, the window open and a scent mister on to mask smells. Sometimes I'll walk in the house and I smell it but most of the time I dont. It does sometimes come through an upper window as my egress window is right next to the top of the vent now. Before, it still wafted up to my bedroom loft window from the first floor.

Thanks for the extra details. I am going to look for a fan that could be on the top of the stack and pull air up.... hoping to find something solar powered so I don't have to run wires and conduit. Maybe Separette has one....I don't know.

@@TinyDreamer Initial setup is done.... hoping everything works as expected. I was going to send a pic but I don't see how to do that.

It doesnt smell throughout the day...the fan takes care of that...but when you sit down and the back door opens, you can slightly smell fresher waste and yes you can absolutely smell it when changing it. I suggest wearing gloves because the smell lingers on your hands afterwards. Even after you wash them. So gloves help. The smell is also sensitive to gnats..if you have any liquidy waste or accidentally get urine back there it forms more odor and will attract bugs and mold. But if you do certain things to prevent that from happening it's much more manageable.

Thanks so much for asking! I made a whole video talking about that. I touch on 5 different topics. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aA47SQ9UJQk.htmlfeature=shared

Separett Website says to use White Vinegar. I myself took someones suggestion and use CLR and then flush with cold water after 2 minutes. I think I'm going to switch to white vinegar because I have no idea if I'm harming the toilet pipe for the urine.

I made a video on how to clean the inside! Hopefully it's better than the response I gave. :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-n6XS41NAqCs.html

Thanks for your feedback!

You're welcome! It really is easy. It's a great toilet, I think.

The urine pipe is stubbed out the bottom of the house and can ve disposed several different ways. In this spot I had it connected to the campgrounds sewer. Another spot, it ran onto the ground through pvc pipe. You can also create a french latrine set up where you put a filtration system of rocks and things below the urine pipe so when it drains into the rocks, it's being filtered. You can also connect it to a waste container and dump it somewhere. In my current spot on my new land, I have it connected to septic tank pipes.

Thanks! Glad you like it!

Great advice! Looks like you have been using this compost toilet for way longer than me. I am still getting used to using it, caring for it, etc. But in the future when I get more settled in a place where I can actually DO what you are suggesting I do, then I will implement your ideas...until then I have to do it the way I know how. I dont even think we are allowed to divert our urine, even if mixed with water onto the campground floor (garden)....we MUST divert it into the sewer. So I'm just following campground rules. Like everything tiny there is a gray area we all have to watch for. Some people are even living illegally in their tiny and under the radar. For now, I choose to do what I can where I'm at. Then I will tweak it to how it's really supposed to be. Thank you for watching! :)

You mean the same landfill where kitty litter diapers both adult and baby diapers go. You talking about the landfills where dog poop goes after the owner picks it up and throws it in the trash the same one where nursing and hospital waste goes. I was a trash man for years believe when I say human poop in a landfill should be the least of your worries.

Thank you for saying these things, Laura. Yes. Not in the landfill. Terrible idea. 😞

@@MrMwd1963 it's not about being worried, it's about making a change and starting by example. I don't want either the dog poo or the dirty diapers in the dump either. Make a statement and talk to your local jurisdiction about those issues to make a change. People should not be using disposable diapers - nothing wrong with cloth and washing them in the laundry.

I'm thinking rinsing everyday with white vinegar. I had been rinsing with a cup of water only for a while. I do half and half now and the stains seem to be lesser now.

Yes, for the most part. It helps until you go to change it...which then you have to open it and ultimately are able to smell the contents. When the lid is closed, the fan draws out the scent.

Yes, just toilet paper for these toilets...or some people use washable toilet paper.

It only does when you are changing it out. I cant smell it otherwise.

I'm not sure exactly! I have never used the kind you are talking about! It's definitely less expensive! I like that I dont have to use cat litter (its heavy) and that I have a fan (to dry out waste). Does your urine go in the bucket too? Does the two create odors? Where to you dispose of the waste with the litter?

There's only a smell when liquid gets in the back container and sits there. The fan doesnt allow it to dry out fast enough and bacteria and mold will start to form and attract bugs. So to keep the smell away I suggest a funnel for women and men to sit down and aim forward! If it''s just waste and no liquid in the back there is no smell at all! When you change it you do smell it.

For right now I dispose of it in the regular trash. When I get my land I'll be doing it the correct way. :)

My toilet is not the newest model but the one before that. It's about 1 or 2 years old. Thanks so much for letting me know about the filters! I'm going to go check now!

There wasnt two filters but when I took off the back filter, a couple dead flies came out :O I vented the toilet up 10 ft and the mesh I had at the top fell off and fell into the pipe. That too could be blocking the airway for the scent. :(

In a composting bag, 3 weeks...in a plastic bag, I'd say 1 month.

Oh wow! You stand up?! 😯 how do you not get urine to splash in the back?...do you squat while standing to be closer to the toilet? Do you have the separett? And lastly...I have tried all kinds of things and it never fails..my urine still goes in the back. I will try your suggestion now.. Thank you!

Question? Has anyone used this with children? My toddler definitely can’t aim nor tell me what she has to do #1 or #2

Hello!! This toilet only starts the compost process. If you were to compost it further, i think its about 8 months to a year.

The liquid is stubbed out the bottom of the house and I have it piped into my grey water pipes and diverting into the campground sewer.

The compostable bags that should be used need to be changed every 3 weeks. If you use a regular garbage bag, it could go longer. Yes, it does smell when you change it. But that's the only time you really smell it unless liquids have gotten back there and bacteria starts forming.

Geeat choice! Hmmm, I have not seen an installation video for installing a separett in an RV either. I think there are a few for tiny houses. But yes, I imagine it would be different set up. I'll pass along a link if I come across one!

@@TinyDreamer thanks!

Thanks for your question! That video you are inquiring about is actually already filmed and I'll be releasing it in a few weeks. I talk about all these issues and how to deal with them. But you are correct, what are we eating or doing to ourselves that cause us to have irregular bowl movements such as diarrhea and constipation. But since I dont teach WHAT to eat or not eat to prevent it i just show how to handle it if it happens. Stay tuned for that video. I think it's a good one! 😉❤

As far as it being better to go in a bucket...the bucket toilet is much better for the earth. You dont waste potable water every time you flush like you would a regular flush toilet. The only things to really learn about are cleaning it and what to do when those situations happen.

I made a video to address these issues! I hope you saw it..if not, here it is! Hope it helps! :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aA47SQ9UJQk.html

@@TinyDreamer Using all that plastic is arguably much worse than wasting the water that you are concerned about.

I purchased my toilet on the Separett website..it was about $1100-$1300 I believe. Cant recall the exact amount.