Compost Toilets

We’re turning your poop into gold!

The revelation of the compost toilets has transformed the way we think about living sustainably. Their utilisation at Boom since 2006 has been a model for large scale events to follow as we change the way we approach sanitation.

Each edition, the science behind the theory and methodology for installing compost toilets at Boom has evolved - and this is thanks to the expertise of several organisations and individuals, including our own, site-specific trial and error practices.

Furthermore, compost toilets have proven it is possible to deal with human waste in a safe and manageable way while illustrating how we can give back to Nature with the creation of soil.

FAQ

How do they work?

Compost toilets are dry, free of putrid smells known to emanate from the conventional toilet. So don’t bother looking for the flush because you won’t find it.
The composting tank beneath the toilet seat has been installed to store all your poo and pee. It is prepared with nutrients like carbon to assist the composting process and to neutralise the odours.
Once your ‘executive meeting’ with the compost toilet is complete (ie: you have finished your business) - use the tetra pak recycled toilet paper, throw it inside the toilet and close the lid immediately to keep the heat and flies out.
Human beings produce two kinds of outputs - liquid and solid. They are kept in a compost tank where temperatures reach up to 50 degress celsius. Time and high temperature will lead most pathogens to eventually die.
Once the pathogens have been killed off, the resulting material is sent to a lab to be analysed and if the results are confirmed positive, it is utilised to create soil for the land.

What NOT to do when using compost toilets

Compost toilets are living organisms - it's paramount that we follow the guidelines necessary to their survival and proper functioning:

Plastics are not biodegradable. Please do not throw female hygiene products (sanitary towels and tampons) and nappies / diapers into the toilet.
Cigarette butts cannot be broken down by the composting process, use the portable ashtrays instead.
Do not pour the contents of the caravan’s chemical toilet into the compost toilet.

Why we use compost toilets at Boom

Because your poo can become gold and could create organic fertiliser to feed the flowers, the trees and edible gardens.
We save water. The average flush uses between six and 15 litres of potable water while 663 million people (source: wateraid) are living without clean water.
If we consider that going to the toilet on a average of six times per day wastes up to 60L p/day, during the eight days of Boom Festival, the use of compost toilets by 40,000 Boomers help save over 19 millions of liters of water.
Compost toilets are chemical free, which means we avoid overloading the public water treatment plant with chemicals.
We create compost soil. By collecting the manure of 30,000 to 40,000 Boomers, we help nourish the earth by creating an organic compost that is combined with the soil, thus making it more fertile.
Over the years we've developped a model of compost toilets that has become practically odorless, and above all, comfortable to all users.

The Process of Turning Poop Into Compost