Finally ditched the black tank: my dry loo journey

I’ll admit, hemp hurds have a lot going for them, but I’ve seen a few issues crop up when tenants use them in my units:

- Sourcing can be unpredictable. Local stores rarely stock them, and bulk orders aren’t always practical for folks who don’t have storage space. Pine and cedar are just easier to find in most hardware stores or garden centers.
- Absorption is good, but in high-traffic situations (think: shared units, or families), I’ve noticed hemp can compact and get dense at the bottom of the bin. That sometimes leads to drainage problems and, ironically, more odor.
- The musty smell thing - totally agree cedar can get funky if you’re not careful, but I’ve had tenants complain about hemp’s earthy scent too, especially if it gets damp and sits for a while.
- Double-bagging isn’t always about the bin seal. Sometimes liners tear when people empty them, or they get punctured by sharp debris. One liner is fine if everyone’s careful, but in practice, accidents happen, and it’s a pain to clean up after.
- Packaging waste is a fair point, but some brands of pine/cedar now come in compostable bags. Not perfect, but getting better.

Not knocking hemp, just saying it’s not a silver bullet. For me, I’d rather stick with what’s easy to source and manage, especially when I’m not the only one using the system. Maybe it’s different if you’re running a solo setup or have more control over your supplies. Just my two cents from the landlord trenches...

Not knocking hemp, just saying it’s not a silver bullet. For me, I’d rather stick with what’s easy to source and manage, especially when I’m not the only one using the system.

That’s a fair take. In shared setups, I’ve found pine shavings are just less hassle - easy to top up, and nobody’s hunting for specialty stuff. If you’re worried about compaction and drainage, try layering a bit of coarse sawdust or even some shredded cardboard at the bottom before adding your main cover material. It helps keep things from getting too dense, especially when bins fill up fast. Not perfect, but it cuts down on those “uh, what’s that smell?” moments.

I get what you mean about pine shavings being the path of least resistance, especially when you’ve got multiple people using the loo. I’ve tried a few different things - hemp, coco coir, even dried leaves once (not my best idea) - and honestly, the simpler the better when it comes to keeping everyone on board.

If you’re worried about compaction and drainage, try layering a bit of coarse sawdust or even some shredded cardboard at the bottom before adding your main cover material.

That’s interesting. I’ve always wondered if mixing materials would actually help with airflow and moisture, or if it just makes emptying the bin more of a pain later. Does the cardboard break down fast enough? I’ve had issues with paper products clumping up and getting kind of gross if things get too wet. Maybe I’m not shredding it fine enough?

Also, how do you handle sourcing sawdust? I can get pine shavings at the feed store no problem, but sawdust seems trickier unless you know someone with a woodshop. Is there a big difference in odor control between sawdust and shavings? Sometimes I feel like shavings are just masking smells rather than actually absorbing them.

One thing that’s worked for me is tossing in a handful of biochar every now and then. Not sure if it’s placebo or what, but it seems to help with both smell and moisture. Anyone else tried that? Or am I just making expensive compost?

I’m still figuring out what works best for our setup - especially since my partner is less enthusiastic about “experimenting” with toilet substrates than I am. Curious if anyone’s found a magic combo that keeps things low-maintenance but still effective.

Does the cardboard break down fast enough? I’ve had issues with paper products clumping up and getting kind of gross if things get too wet. Maybe I’m not shredding it fine enough?

You’re right to be cautious with cardboard and paper. In my experience, unless it’s shredded pretty fine, it can mat up and hold moisture, which isn’t great for airflow or odor. If you’re set on using cardboard, running it through a garden shredder or even just tearing it into small bits helps a lot, but honestly, it’s still not as effective as sawdust or shavings for absorption.

Sawdust is tricky to source unless you’ve got a local mill or woodshop that uses untreated wood. I’ve found that some cabinet shops will let you take bags off their hands if you ask, but you have to be careful about what kind of wood they’re using - avoid anything with finishes or glues.

As for odor control, sawdust does a better job than shavings in my opinion. The finer particles trap moisture and smells more effectively, while shavings are mostly just a physical cover. That said, shavings are way easier to handle and less messy.

Biochar’s an interesting addition. It’s not just placebo - it actually does help with odor and moisture, but yeah, it’s pricier than other options. I’d say if you’ve got access to cheap biochar, keep using it, but don’t feel like you have to.

It’s always a balancing act between convenience and effectiveness... especially when not everyone in the house is as enthusiastic about “toilet science” experiments.

“unless it’s shredded pretty fine, it can mat up and hold moisture, which isn’t great for airflow or odor.”

That’s been my experience too. If you’re using cardboard, I’d recommend a three-step process: first, remove any tape or glossy bits; second, soak it briefly to soften; third, shred as finely as possible. Even then, it’s still not as absorbent as sawdust. One trick I’ve found is mixing in a bit of dry garden soil - helps with clumping and odor, and it’s cheap. Just don’t overdo it or you’ll end up with mud.

I’ve tried the cardboard route too, and yeah, it’s a hassle to get it shredded fine enough. I actually gave up after a while because it just felt like too much work for not enough payoff, especially when sawdust is so much easier to handle. The garden soil tip is interesting though - I’ve only ever used peat moss or coco coir as a mix-in, but those aren’t exactly budget-friendly if you’re using a lot. Does the soil ever cause issues with bugs or anything? I’m always a little wary about bringing in stuff from outside, especially during the warmer months.

Curious if anyone’s experimented with mixing in dried leaves or grass clippings instead? I keep thinking there’s got to be a good free alternative, but haven’t really landed on one that works as well as sawdust.

Does the soil ever cause issues with bugs or anything?

I get the concern about using garden soil - bugs can definitely hitch a ride, especially if you’re scooping it up during peak insect season. I’ve seen gnats become a problem that way.

On the dried leaves or grass clippings idea, I’d be careful. If they’re not fully dried, you risk mold or bad smells. Plus, grass clippings can mat down and get slimy fast. Sawdust is great because it stays dry and absorbs well, but if that’s not an option, maybe try wood shavings (the kind used for animal bedding)? They’re usually kiln-dried and pretty clean. Just avoid anything treated or from unknown sources - safety first.

I’ve always wondered about the long-term effects of using wood shavings. Doesn’t it get a bit dusty, or is that just me overthinking it? I tried hay once and it turned into a soggy mess after a week. Anyone had luck mixing materials, like shavings with a bit of soil?

I’ve wondered about the dust too, honestly. Wood shavings are cheap and easy to get, but I swear the fine stuff gets everywhere if you’re not careful. I tried a batch that was a bit too powdery and it made my allergies flare up - so maybe it’s not just overthinking? The chunkier shavings seem better, but then you go through them faster.

Mixing in soil is interesting. I tried a layer of garden soil once, thinking it’d help with smell and moisture, but it got heavy and kind of clumpy. Not sure if I did it right or just used the wrong type of soil. Hay was a disaster for me too - turned into this gross mat after a few days.

Honestly, I keep circling back to sawdust from a local mill (as long as it’s not treated wood). It’s cheap, absorbs well, and doesn’t get as dusty as some shavings. Still, I’m always skeptical about whether there’s a “perfect” mix or if we’re all just making do with what’s available...

Hay was a disaster for me too - turned into this gross mat after a few days.

Yeah, hay’s a no-go in my book. Tried it once and it just turned into a soggy mess, smelled worse than before. I get what you mean about the dust - fine sawdust is brutal if you’ve got allergies. I’ve had better luck mixing chunkier shavings with a bit of sawdust, kind of a “best of both worlds” thing. Still haven’t found the magic combo either, but honestly, as long as it keeps the smell down and doesn’t turn into sludge, I’ll call it a win.

I get where you're coming from with the chunkier shavings, but honestly, I had the opposite experience. Maybe it’s just the brand I tried, but I found the bigger pieces didn’t soak up much - stuff just kind of sat there and got funky. Weirdly enough, straw worked better for me than hay or shavings, even if it’s a bit more work to keep it fluffed up. Never thought I’d have so many opinions about toilet bedding, but here we are...

Funny how we all end up with strong opinions on this stuff, right? I actually had the opposite with straw - ended up with a weird smell and little gnats. Plain ol’ sawdust has been my go-to. Maybe it’s just what’s available around here…

Interesting - I've actually wondered about the straw vs. sawdust thing. I tried straw once, but it packed down weird and seemed to hold moisture. Did you ever have issues with the sawdust being too fine and getting everywhere? I worry about dust in the air, especially in a small space... Seems like every material has its own quirks. Have you noticed any difference in how easy it is to clean out?

Did you ever have issues with the sawdust being too fine and getting everywhere? I worry about dust in the air, especially in a small space...

Yeah, sawdust can definitely get a bit messy if you’re not careful. What’s worked for me is using coarser wood shavings instead of the super fine stuff - they don’t float around as much and are easier to sweep up. For cleanup, I just line the bucket with a compostable bag, which makes dumping and rinsing way less of a hassle. Straw always felt soggy to me, too, and it clumped up at the bottom. If you stick with sawdust or shavings, just make sure it’s dry and store it in a bin with a lid to keep the dust down.

Straw always felt soggy to me, too, and it clumped up at the bottom.

That’s been my experience as well - straw just never seemed to hold up, especially in damp conditions. Coarser shavings really do make a difference for dust and cleanup. If you’re worried about the fine stuff, a simple mask or even just opening a window helps a lot. It’s definitely a learning curve, but you’ll find what works best for your setup. Good on you for making the switch; it’s not always easy to ditch the old system, but it’s worth it in the long run.

I get the point about straw getting soggy, but I’ve actually had the opposite issue with shavings. Here’s what I’ve noticed:

- With straw, yeah, it can clump and feel damp, but it’s easy to toss out in big chunks when you’re cleaning up.
- Shavings (especially the finer stuff) seem to get everywhere - tracked out of the loo, stuck to shoes, even in the hallway sometimes. Feels like I’m sweeping nonstop.
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“Coarser shavings really do make a difference for dust and cleanup.”

I tried mixing straw and shavings once, thinking I’d get the best of both worlds. It just made for more sorting and more mess, honestly. Maybe it’s a “grass is greener” thing, but I keep coming back to straw for ease of composting. Just my two cents - guess it depends on the space and what’s available locally.

Straw definitely wins for composting in my book too, even if it does get a bit soggy sometimes. I totally hear you on the shavings - those things are like glitter, they just keep showing up everywhere no matter how much you sweep. I tried the “mix and match” approach once as well, thinking I was being clever, but it just turned into double the mess and double the work.

One thing I’ve found is that if you can get your hands on chopped straw (the shorter stuff), it seems to break down faster and doesn’t clump quite as badly. Not always easy to find, though, and sometimes it’s pricier than regular bales. For me, the cost is a big factor - straw’s usually cheaper around here, so that’s another point in its favor.

I guess there’s no perfect solution unless someone invents self-cleaning bedding... until then, I’ll stick with what’s easiest on my wallet and my broom.

One thing I’ve found is that if you can get your hands on chopped straw (the shorter stuff), it seems to break down faster and doesn’t clump quite as badly. Not always easy to find, though, and...

Self-cleaning bedding would be a dream, right? Honestly, I’ve found the same thing with shavings - they just stick to everything. Chopped straw’s a solid tip, though. Even if it costs a bit more, the time saved on cleanup might be worth it. Sometimes you’ve just gotta pick your battles.

Chopped straw’s a game changer, I’ll give you that. Tried it once after a particularly epic shavings disaster - looked like a hamster exploded in the hallway. It’s not always easy to source, but when you do, man, cleanup is almost enjoyable... almost.

I’ll admit, chopped straw does make a difference - less mess, less dust, and it doesn’t track everywhere like shavings. Still, I’ve found it can get a bit compacted if you’re not careful, especially in damp weather. I tried mixing in some dried leaves once, just to stretch the straw and keep things looser. Not perfect, but it worked better than I expected. Sourcing’s definitely hit or miss, though... sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the hassle compared to just sticking with sawdust.