• About Us
    • What's On >
      • South Downs Green Fair
      • Talks
      • Art Exhibitions >
        • Past Exhibitions
        • Pete Levy
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
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    • Bursary
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Advanced Knife Skills
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
        • Trug Making Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Living Willow Tree Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Garden Craft Course
        • Willow Reindeer
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
      • Forest School Training >
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders with Jon Cree
        • Forest Kindergarten: Train The Trainer
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
      • Natural Wellbeing Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Women's Woodland Retreat
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Permaculture Courses
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Online Experiences
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      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Home Education
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    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
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  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
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    • Compost Toilet
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    • Herb Garden
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
    • Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Yurts
  • Eco Blog
    • Art & Craft
    • Grow Now
    • Health
    • On The Wild Side
    • Meditation
    • Painting as Meditation
    • Weave From The Hedges
    • Young People
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    • Shop At The Centre
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      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List
THE SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
  • About Us
    • What's On >
      • South Downs Green Fair
      • Talks
      • Art Exhibitions >
        • Past Exhibitions
        • Pete Levy
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Awards
    • Bursary
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Advanced Knife Skills
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
        • Trug Making Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Living Willow Tree Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Garden Craft Course
        • Willow Reindeer
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
      • Forest School Training >
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders with Jon Cree
        • Forest Kindergarten: Train The Trainer
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
      • Natural Wellbeing Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Women's Woodland Retreat
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Permaculture Courses
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Online Experiences
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Stay With Us
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Large Groups
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Children's Activities
    • Wood Mouse Forest School
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Home Education
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies and Gifts
    • Donations
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Support Us
    • Smoothie Bike Fund
    • Cast Off
    • Friends
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
    • Leaves For Learning Appeal >
      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Herb Garden
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
    • Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Yurts
  • Eco Blog
    • Art & Craft
    • Grow Now
    • Health
    • On The Wild Side
    • Meditation
    • Painting as Meditation
    • Weave From The Hedges
    • Young People
  • Shop & Book
    • Shop At The Centre
    • Online Eco Shop
    • Online T Shirt Shop
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Discounts and Benefits
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us >
      • Map
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Guided Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List

Compost Toilet

Why Build a Compost Toilet?
Every day in the UK, we use a staggering two billion litres of fresh drinking-quality water - just to flush our loos.

At home, your loo accounts for around 30% of all the water you use. This isn't surprising when a traditional toilet can use 13 litres of water each time.

Composting toilets use little or no water. They treat human waste by composting and dehydration. They don't need expensive sewage systems, cause no environmental damage - and even produce a valuable resource for gardening.

How It Works
A composting toilet is a ventilated container that provides the optimum conditions for decomposition under controlled aerobic (with oxygen) conditions. In the composting process, organic matter is broken down by naturally occurring bacteria and fungi into a dry, non-smelly humus.

The system we have chosen is a Continual Process System; it is in a constant state of composting. Waste enters the system, and composting reduces the volume. It is then harvested after 6-12 months as fully composted material which will be safe to use on the fruit trees on the campsite.

This system works using a urine separating device which means that the poo pile stays dry and does not become anaerobic. When anaerobic (without oxygen) the waste would take much longer to decompose and would become smelly.

Whenever the toilet is used for defecation a small amount of soak material (saw dust or other dry carbon based material) is added to the vault. The purpose of soak is also to prevent the pile from becoming anaerobic by maintaining an open structure and soaking up excess moisture, to adjust the carbon-nitrogen ratio by adding more carbon, and to cover the wastes.

The urine goes safely into a soak-away where it drains away with no smell or damage to the local environment. For an even more sustainable option it is possible to collect and use diluted 'liquid gold' as a nitrogen rich fertiliser in the garden.

The composting chamber is ventilated with a passive ventilation system which further eliminates any unpleasant smells.
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Our Design
The structure is 10ft x 6ft and is timber framed using locally soured wood. It is shingle roofed using locally sourced chestnut. The walls are timber-clad, also using wood sourced locally.

The composting chamber is a complete unit that can be lifted into the hole and supports the building.

It is located on the campsite at The Sustainability Centre.

Earthworks Trust & Earthworks Foundation

​The Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by ​The Earthworks Trust (Charity No.1079866).
Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation. All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust.


​Charity Number ​​ 1079866

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Main Address

The Sustainability Centre 
​Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR

Reception

01730 823166
​info@sustainability-centre.org

South Downs Eco Lodge
​& Camp Site

01730 823549
accommodation@sustainability-centre.org

Cafe

01730 823755
infobeechcafe@gmail.com  

Burials

​01730 823425
​burials@sustainability-centre.org

Education

​education@sustainability-centre.org

Courses

​courses@sustainability-centre.org

Contact Us

Join Mailing List

Leave Mailing List

Opening Hours

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Cafe

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Find Us

Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
  • About Us
    • What's On >
      • South Downs Green Fair
      • Talks
      • Art Exhibitions >
        • Past Exhibitions
        • Pete Levy
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Awards
    • Bursary
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Advanced Knife Skills
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
        • Trug Making Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Living Willow Tree Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Garden Craft Course
        • Willow Reindeer
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
      • Forest School Training >
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders with Jon Cree
        • Forest Kindergarten: Train The Trainer
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
      • Natural Wellbeing Courses >
        • Art, Sound and Meditation Course
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Women's Woodland Retreat
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Permaculture Courses
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Online Experiences
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Stay With Us
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Large Groups
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Children's Activities
    • Wood Mouse Forest School
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Home Education
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies and Gifts
    • Donations
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Support Us
    • Smoothie Bike Fund
    • Cast Off
    • Friends
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
    • Leaves For Learning Appeal >
      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Herb Garden
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
    • Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Yurts
  • Eco Blog
    • Art & Craft
    • Grow Now
    • Health
    • On The Wild Side
    • Meditation
    • Painting as Meditation
    • Weave From The Hedges
    • Young People
  • Shop & Book
    • Shop At The Centre
    • Online Eco Shop
    • Online T Shirt Shop
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Discounts and Benefits
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us >
      • Map
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Guided Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List