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What compost medium do I use for my compost toilet?
If you google this question, you may get discouraged quickly at the amount of conflicting information on this topic. Compost medium refers to the organic material used to mix with the solid waste within the toilet and picking the right one MATTERS!
For the OGO™ Compost Toilet, we highly recommend peat coir, however, coco coir and sphagnum peat moss is a perfectly acceptable medium as well.
Both are really cheap and come in many different sizes, types, and brands.
Some compost waste systems use a wide variety of compost mediums. These systems work by layering, (medium, waste, medium, so on) since there is no mixing needed with this style it does have the benefit of utilising a larger variety of material. However, this method also is prone to odor, and bugs, and takes more medium. Since we have a power agitator, it is NOT RECOMMENDED to use the following in the OGO™ Compost Toilet:
- Wood chips/shavings
- Straw/Hay
- Cat Litter
- Saw Dust
- Grass/Leaves/Ash
- Regular Soil
- Pine Needles
These materials will obstruct the unit’s agitator, resulting in improper mixing and possible motor failure.
One of the main factors that are going to keep your unit functioning properly is your compost medium. Having a light, fluffy, and absorbent material keeps away odors and helps the beginning of the compost cycle begin. The microorganisms need oxygen to do their job, they can live on as little as 5%, but having a light compost medium, low moisture and proper ventilation will help everything fall into place.