FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We look forward to answering your open questions
Here you will find short and clear answers to frequently asked questions.
Functionality & separation system
Functionality & separation system
How do I use a TROBOLO?
Using a TROBOLO differs little from using a conventional toilet. The sitting position is identical to that of a regular toilet – this applies to both men and women. Thanks to the contact-free separation system the body only touches the toilet seat. Merely urinating while standing should be avoided as the urine cannot be fully separated in this case.
How does a composting toilet work?
Composting toilets are self-contained systems that don’t require water, electricity, or chemicals. They include one or more containers inside to capture all waste. Basic composting toilets gather both urine and solid waste in one single container. Those with a separation mechanism use two containers and have an insert that directs urine into a liquids container, while solids go into a separate solids container. Collecting liquid and solid toilet waste in separate containers facilitates waste disposal enormously, while simultaneously reducing odors to a minimum. The whole process is absolutely hygienic and at no point do you come in touch with excreta. Since no connection to the sewage system or electricity network is needed, a composting toilet can be used self-sufficiently at any location.
How does the separation system work?
The separation is made possible by an integrated urine diverter made of durable plastic. This urine diverter directs the urine via the front part of the toilet opening into the liquids container or into an external tank. The solid feces and toilet paper end up in the container for solids via the rear of the toilet opening. The separation system is adapted to the human anatomy so that any physical contact is avoided.
What is the function of the separation system?
By separating the excretions, odors are reduced to a minimum and the subsequent disposal of toilet waste is made easier. Unpleasant odors arise only when urine and feces are combined which is why it is possible to do without toilet chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
Litter
Litter
What is litter?
Litter consists of compostable and absorbent materials such as wood shavings. With the help of a small container, approximately 9 oz of litter is placed in the back of the toilet opening after every defecation, where it covers the feces and the used toilet paper and absorbs moisture and any remaining odors. The litter is only necessary with TROBOLO composting toilets that do not have an electrical exhaust system.
Can sawdust or wood chips produced at home be used in place of the litter?
If you happen to have wood waste products like sawdust at home due to DIY projects, you can simply use these as an alternative to the litter or add them to your existing TROBOLO litter. You should only make sure that the sawdust is neither too fine nor too coarse. For this, you can use the consistency of our TROBOLO litter as a guide.
Toilet Paper
Toilet Paper
How do I dispose of the toilet paper?
Dispose of used toilet paper as usual by placing it in the rear part of the toilet opening where it covers the solid excretions and is later composted to humus or disposed of.
Can you flush toilet paper in a composting toilet?
Since a composting toilet doesn’t use any water, flushing isn’t involved. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t dispose of toilet paper in it. With TROBOLO composting toilets, you can simply put your toilet paper in the solids container, located in the back part of the toilet, similar to where you would place it in a traditional toilet. If you choose to compost your toilet waste, ensure you use compostable toilet paper without any chemical additives. Please be aware that while all TROBOLO composting toilets can handle toilet paper perfectly fine, other models, especially those with stirring mechanisms, might not be suitable for this.
Emptying
Emptying
How often do you empty a composting toilet?
The length of the intervals between emptying varies among the different TROBOLO models and you can read up on these in the features section under ‘Capacity’.
How do I empty my TROBOLO?
All TROBOLO models can be easily opened from the top to remove the two separate containers inside. To do this, the TROBOLO is first opened, then the containers are closed with the accompanying latches by simply pressing or screwing them on. The last step is to remove the containers to transport them to the emptying location.
Where do you empty a composting toilet?
Regarding emptying your composting toilet, you have several options. You can dispose of the solid waste by tossing it in with your household trash or composting it. Simply remove the inlay with the waste from the solids container and toss it into your household trash, similar to how you would dispose of a used diaper. Alternatively, if you prefer composting, place the inlay and its contents in your composter. Just make sure to use our compostable inlays for this option. As for the liquid waste, you can flush it down a regular toilet or dilute it with water and use it as natural fertilizer for your ornamental plants.
Composting
Composting
Do I need a special composter?
For the correct composting of toilet waste, it is recommended to use a closed composter. This prevents unpleasant odors during the composting process and the intrusion of excessive rainwater, which turns into black water when it comes into contact with not yet composted material and should not seep away into the ground. Commercially available hot composters usually fulfill these requirements.
What can I use the composted toilet waste for?
During the composting of toilet waste, these quickly lose their volume and can no longer be recognized as such within a few weeks. To make sure that all substances that might possibly be unhygienic are eliminated, a composting period over 24 months is recommended. The finished humus can be used in your garden as organic fertilizer for ornamental flowerbeds.
Hygiene & cleaning
Hygiene & cleaning
Do composting toilets smell?
Composting toilets are well-known for their odor-free operation. However, keeping them that way requires regular maintenance. Unpleasant smells usually happen when feces and urine mix and start to break down. It’s best to use a composting toilet with a urine diverter to avoid this issue. By separating solid and liquid waste, you prevent odor from forming right from the start, slowing down the process of smell development. Extra steps can be taken to completely avoid bad odors. For example, putting a bit of litter on top of the solid waste helps keep the container odor-free for extended periods.
Is a composting toilet gross?
Composting toilets are not considered gross because they are odorless, hygienic, and easy to clean. You never come in direct contact with the waste, and because solid and liquid waste are kept separate, the emptying process is much cleaner compared to chemical toilets or dry toilets without a urine diverter. Additionally, as there is no water involved, you never face issues such as clogging, leaking, or overflowing.
How do I clean my TROBOLO?
The cleaning effort for our composting toilets is generally less than for a conventional toilet. For example, you don’t even need a toilet brush, as the solid waste falls directly into the solids container provided, which is positioned below the large opening of the divider. Even if you suffer from diarrhea, the waste only comes into contact with the replaceable inlay in the container, protecting it from contamination.
The urine container also does not require any elaborate cleaning procedure. You simply wash it out after each emptying with a little warm water and at best a dash of vinegar or biological cleaner – et voilà.
If the body of your TROBOLO also needs cleaning, you can do this with confidence. The surfaces of our wooden models are impregnated with a natural oil and can be cleaned with a damp cloth, just like the wooden toilet seat, which is sealed with an antibacterial protective coating. The body of the TROBOLO WandaGO can be cleaned in all corners and ends, as you like without hesitation, because it is made of polypropylene.
Do I have to clean the containers?
After each emptying, the solids container is fitted with a new inlay, which is inserted into the container similar to a bag. This prevents contamination and thus time-consuming cleaning.
The liquids container should be rinsed out after each emptying with warm water and a dash of vinegar, lemon cleaner or – at best ecological – detergent. If you also pour a dash of vinegar into the container every now and then, this not only neutralizes odors but also prevents urine particles from sticking to the walls of the container. Consequently, time-consuming cleaning is not necessary here either.
What is the TROBOLO SafeShell System®?
Our unique and patented TROBOLO SafeShell System® is designed to keep your liquids container completely odor-free at all times. This groundbreaking feature allows you to empty the liquids container at your convenience without adhering to strict emptying schedules. Moreover, the system ensures spill protection during travel, making it an ideal solution for using your TROBOLO in campervans, RVs, or other mobile set-ups.
Further Information
Further Information
Why isn't the container for liquids larger?
The 2.6 gallons liquids container of the large DIY set offers the best compromise between capacity, space requirements and handling when it comes to building your own composting toilet. The same applies to the 1.2 gallons collection container in our TROBOLO WandaGO.
At first glance, it may seem more convenient to use a larger container to extend the service life. But experience has shown that this would only bring a number of other obstacles.
After all, emptying a larger container also entails a greater weight burden. Which not everyone may be able to take on. In addition, a larger container would not fit in our models, which would mean either a complicated installation of the container outside the body of the composting toilet or building a larger body, which in turn would be difficult to stow away.
Where can I set up a TROBOLO?
Technically, anywhere. The TROBOLO models are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, e.g. for gardens, houses and tiny houses, campers and vans, and institutions. A TROBOLO works completely self-sufficient and offers high comfort even in very remote locations.
Do ongoing expenses arise by using a TROBOLO?
The ongoing expenses are limited exclusively to the use of inlays and litter.
Do I have to look at feces when opening the TROBOLO?
No. Thanks to the black solids container, the incidence of light is minimal and as the toilet paper always gets added last, there is no direct view of the feces. Thus, the view is limited to the toilet paper and if you’re using litter, which would be added after the toilet paper, you’d only be seeing this.
Does it matter if the urine isn't completely separated?
The design of the TROBOLO system ensures that nothing can be spilt and that it still works if the urine is not separated entirely. If the urine isn’t diverted correctly by the urine diverter, it simply flows into the solids container where, in small quantities, it causes no disadvantage.
Can a composting toilet handle diarrhea?
Diarrhea is not an issue when using composting toilets. Our composting toilets are designed to effectively manage all types of toilet waste with ease, even diarrhea. With all solid waste, including diarrhea, directed into the inlay of the solids container, there’s no risk of spills or mess. Just ensure you cover it with enough litter for proper drying and odor control.
Do I have to consider anything in relation to menstruation and using a TROBOLO?
Using a TROBOLO during your menstrual period is not an issue at all. Menstruation-related stains on the surfaces can be cleaned wet, just as any other stains. Regarding disposal / composting the amounts of blood caused by menstruation are negligible. Pads and similar objects shouldn’t be thrown in the containers, if you are planning to compost.
What is the maximum body weight a TROBOLO can be used at?
In principle, a TROBOLO can also be used with a higher body weight without any problems. The tested load for the TROBOLO WandaGO models is 330.7 lbs. You can find the exact details in the respective product description.
Can you use a composting toilet in the winter?
The TROBOLO system is basically designed for year-round operation. It is free of hoses or other mechanical parts that could be affected by frost. And the accessories, such as the containers, are also designed for use in winter temperatures.
The TROBOLO WandaGO models are made of 100% weatherproof material and can therefore be used outdoors all year round without hesitation.
No matter which model is used to collect the urine, it will not freeze until well below the freezing point. Nevertheless, we recommend emptying the containers more frequently at temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can a TROBOLO be disassembled for mobile usage?
The TROBOLO WandaGO is the right choice for your mobile use. Although it cannot be dismantled, it is ultra-compact and can still be extended to a regular toilet height thanks to its stacking function.
How do you use inlays in TROBOLO composting toilets?
To prevent the solids container of your TROBOLO composting toilet from coming into direct contact with waste, it is covered with an inlay. This allows you to easily and hygienically remove and dispose of the toilet waste including the inlay.
If you plan to compost your toilet waste, we recommend our compostable inlays made from 100% degradable corn starch. Otherwise, our recycled plastic inlays are ideal. You can dispose of them in your household waste, just like used diapers.
For how long can I use compostable inlays before they dissolve?
The advantage of our inlays being compostable is their composition of degradable cornstarch. However, this inevitably results in less durability which is why we recommend a weekly change of the inlay.
What material is the urine diverter of the TROBOLO composting toilets made of?
The urine diverter is made of 100% recyclable polypropylene.
Is there a visual protection that prevents the view of feces?
We consciously avoid the installation of a visual protection in our composting toilets as this is a mechanical component that could possibly lead to faults and additional cleaning which we don’t want to burden our customers with.
For instance, a visual protection screen doesn’t function in an unobstructed way as soon as someone using the toilet sits down on it with their full body weight – which would be the prerequisite for the complete opening of the screen, and which would then inevitably lead to the soiling thereof.
When using our composting toilets, litter is added to the used toilet paper. In this case, when looking into the opening, only the litter and possibly some toilet paper are visible as opposed to your own excretions or that of other users.
Should you have any remaining concerns about aesthetics, then adding more litter may solve this. However, we expect that this is not necessary.
Get in touch
If you have any other questions or would like detailed advice on your individual situation, please feel free to send us an e-mail at hello@trobolo.us.