Currently open for pre-booked visits only (courses, events, B&B, groups, students) – read more
CAT Logo
Compost Toilets (Only three places left)

Compost Toilets (Only three places left)


Home » Compost Toilets (Only three places left)

A beginner’s guide to the compost toilet: Understanding the biology behind humanure.

On this practical course you’ll gain a foundational understanding of the principles, benefits and limitations of compost toilets.

This is not a building course but rather an overview of the components required to make a compost toilet system work, the biology of composting to maximise performance, and the cultural trends governing our attitudes towards toilets.

Key Information

  • Duration: 1 day
  • Upcoming dates: Saturday 27th April 2024
  • Start and finish times: 10am to 4.30pm
  • Fees: £125
  • Includes: tuition and lunch.
  • Terms and Conditions: You must be over the age of 18 years when this course starts.
  • What to bring: we also strongly advise you to bring waterproof clothing.
  • Terms and Conditions:

What you will learn

We’ll explore the different compost toilets available, from off the shelf systems like ‘bucket and chuck it’ to more advanced systems, as well as the impacts of urine separation and chamber layout on output quality and quantity.

You’ll also learn the requirements for planning permission, the management of greywater, safety, hygiene and discuss the ‘yuck’ factor.

The course is suitable for anyone with a practical interest in the compost toilet as a waterless soil generating technology. You’ll leave knowing how to get creating public or private cost-effective low-maintenance amenities in remote locations or where no other option is available.

Tutor profile

Fin is a BSc in Marine Biology and MSc in Human Ecology working on water resources and ecosystem services at CAT since 2011, teaching and developing short courses, lectures, tours and workshops to engage people in a critical enquiry on human – waste – place relations.

Beyond CAT Fin facilitates the co – design and installation of low impact sanitation solutions for off grid homes, allotments, festivals and camp sites in Wales, Scotland and Europe, most recently collaborations include Phytology, Bethnal Green on an accessible composting toilet for a nature reserve; UCL Bartlett School research project on Pee and Poo for Food, looking at barriers to urban production and use of composted human waste as a fertiliser; Global Gardens Cardiff on a composting toilet for their allotment plot; and The Clearing at Compton Verney, an art project set in post climate collapse adaptation with workshops on Drink the Water and Make a Toilet.

Searching Availability...

Searching Availability...