Finally ditched the black tank: my dry loo journey

Honestly, the unpredictability is what gets me. I’ve had batches that broke down in weeks, and others that just sat there like a science experiment gone wrong. I’m with you on pine dust - yeah, it’s messy, but at least it doesn’t make your eyes water like the black tank fumes. Still, I’m always a little paranoid about airflow and moisture. One time I ignored a weird smell for too long and ended up with a mini swamp in the bin... not fun.

Bulk farm supply is a solid tip, though I’d add - double check what’s actually in the bedding. Some of those “deals” are full of additives or chemicals you don’t want anywhere near your compost or garden. Learned that one the hard way after my tomatoes started looking weird last summer. If you’re trying to save money, sometimes Craigslist or local Facebook groups have folks giving away clean sawdust or shavings too.

Anyway, dry loo’s definitely less gross than dealing with tanks, but it’s not exactly set-and-forget either. Just gotta keep an eye (and nose) on things.

One time I ignored a weird smell for too long and ended up with a mini swamp in the bin... not fun.

Been there, and it’s wild how fast things can go sideways. I once had a vent fan fail on a humid weekend, didn’t catch it for a couple days, and by then it was like a hot compost smoothie in there. I agree about farm supply - some of that “pine” bedding is more glue than wood. I stick to the local sawmill now, even if it’s a bit chunkier. Not perfect, but I’ll take that over black tank roulette any day.

I agree about farm supply - some of that “pine” bedding is more glue than wood.

Interesting take, but have you tried mixing in shredded cardboard or even dried leaves? I’ve found sawmill stuff can get a bit too chunky and doesn’t always absorb as much as I’d like. Also, curious - how do you handle the airflow if the vent fan goes out again? I’ve seen folks use passive vents, but does that really cut it when things get muggy?

I’ve actually tried the shredded cardboard thing - works pretty well, but it can get a bit clumpy if you’re not careful. Dried leaves are a cool idea, though I always worry about bugs sneaking in with them. The sawmill stuff is definitely hit or miss. Sometimes it’s like dumping a bag of wood chips in there, which doesn’t do much for smell or moisture.

About the airflow - man, when my vent fan died last summer, it was rough. I rigged up a couple of those cheap floor vents you can get at the hardware store, just to keep some air moving. It helped a little, but honestly, when it gets humid, passive vents don’t really cut it. The air just kind of sits there. I’ve heard of people using solar-powered fans as a backup, but haven’t tried that yet. Curious if anyone’s found a low-tech fix that actually works when the weather’s gross.

I hear you on the vent fan struggle - when mine quit, it was like a sauna in there. I tried propping the door open a crack (not ideal for privacy, but desperate times...), and even put a small battery-powered desk fan near the vent pipe. It helped a bit, but honestly, nothing beats a proper powered vent. Has anyone tried those wind-driven turbine vents? I keep seeing them on sheds and outhouses, but not sure if they actually move enough air when it’s muggy. Also, with solar fans - do you worry about wiring or fire risk at all? I get nervous about mixing DIY electrical stuff with composting setups...