Fillers for peat toilets: comparative review and selection tips

Not everyone wants to work on equipping an internal bathroom with a drain hole in a country house. Many people are also unhappy with constant trips to the toilet in the yard.In recent years, an alternative has emerged - bio-toilets installed directly indoors.

The peat toilet fillers they use can eliminate the smell and the need for constant waste removal. In this article we will talk about the principle of operation of toilet fillers, consider their composition, and also make a comparative review of the most popular peat fillers.

Scheme and principle of operation of a dry closet

There are many designs of dry closets: from 10-liter ones with mechanical peat supply to 200-liter ones with automated filling and an active ventilation system.

But the standard components of this equipment are:

1. Body with seat.
2. Lower waste container.
3. Upper container for filler.
4. Ventilation pipe (optional).
5. Mechanism for mixing filler and waste.
6. Hose for draining the liquid fraction (optional).

Approximate diagram:

The toilet can be additionally equipped with electric motors, fans and automation, but this equipment increases the cost of the basic configuration several times

The operation of the dry closet is simple and straightforward. Initially, the peat mixture is poured to the top into a special container, as well as into a waste tank with a layer of 2-3 cm.

After using the toilet, you need to turn the handle or lever of the internal mechanism so that an additional layer of peat is poured into the waste container. The toilet may have a built-in electric drive that will perform this procedure instead of a person. You can read more about the operating principles of dry closets and their types Here.

The advantages of a dry closet are:

• mobility;
• ease of installation;
• low cost.

As the waste container fills, it must be pulled out and cleaned. The biomass generated in toilets is perfect for fertilizing garden soil after composting.

Why do you need peat filler?

People who bought peat filler for a dry closet do not think about the number of useful functions that this mixture performs. You need to know everything about the capabilities of this product in order to use them with maximum economic benefit and efficiency.

The main objectives of peat mixtures for dry toilets are:

1. Inhibition of the development of pathogenic bacteria and insect larvae in waste.
2. Removing the unpleasant odor of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in the bathroom.
3. Liquid absorption.
4. Biochemical processing of organic substances by bacteria.

Bacterial additives to dry mixtures contain special strains of microorganisms that process human waste to form sludge and water. As a result, even the possibility of the appearance of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide odors is eliminated.

During the activity of bacteria, high molecular weight organic substances are processed into low molecular weight ones, which are an excellent substrate for the production of natural fertilizers. Right after peat toilet cleaning The resulting biomass cannot be used in the garden - it must undergo a composting process for at least 1 year.

There are other general economic uses of peat filler for dry closets.

The mixture can be used as:

1. Substrate for storing root vegetables in the cellar.
2. Animal potty filler.
3. Above-ground protection of plant root systems in winter.

All options are popular due to their security.

Peat filler can be sprinkled on both tree trunks and flower stems to retain moisture in the soil and prevent the growth of weeds

There are many more useful ways to use peat filler in the country than you might think. These mixtures not only perfectly cope with their functions in dry closets, but can also be used for additional household needs.

Composition of fillers for dry toilets

The problem of odor in dry closets is solved using several methods that are different in nature. All of them are based on filling a waste container with some substances.

It can be:

1. Peat mixture.
2. Bacterial backfills.
3. Chemical powder.
4. Liquid filler.
5. Wood sawdust.

Peat mixture is best suited as a filler for country dry toilets. It differs significantly from the substrate used as solid fuel. The main task of the filler is to eliminate odors and start the process of biochemical decomposition of waste.

The following ingredients can be found in peat mixtures for dry toilets on the market:

1. A mixture of dry high peat. This ingredient absorbs moisture and odors well, preventing them from penetrating into the bathroom. Peat is the main bulk part of the filler.
2. Soil bacteria, microelements and organic additives. These components are usually purchased separately from peat mixtures. They are poured into the waste toilet tank every few days and process organic biomass into compost.
3. Sawdust and crushed bark of coniferous trees. This ingredient perfectly absorbs moisture and odors, fills the bathroom with a pleasant aroma and makes the mixture more dense and free-flowing.
4. A mixture of dry sawdust from deciduous trees. The main function of this component is to loosen the mixture. Shredded wood is degradable, so it is subsequently broken down by bacteria and becomes part of the compost.

All of them are of natural origin.

Some manufacturers add lime to peat, which helps neutralize unpleasant odors more quickly. The reason for the bad aroma from the dry closet may be the manufacturer’s use of low-lying peat, which does not have sorption properties.

Lowland peat is almost black in color, wet and lumpy. With slight moisture it loses its friability, and with it its sorption properties.

High-quality peat mixtures with microorganisms not only serve as a filler in a dry closet, but are also an excellent fertilizer for a summer cottage.

Advantages and disadvantages of mixtures

Before the purchase to the dacha of the dry closet With peat fillers, it is recommended to become familiar not only with the positive aspects of these mixtures, but also with the disadvantages. There are undoubtedly more positive aspects.

These include:

• absence of unpleasant odors;
• good sorption properties;
• environmental friendliness;
• the ability to use waste as fertilizer;
• preventing the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and insects;
• long shelf life of mixtures;
• ease of cleaning the waste tank.

It is also worth mentioning frost resistance - a relevant property for northern regions.

After emptying the waste tank, it should be washed with detergent to flush out potentially harmful bacteria and fungi.

The listed advantages allow peat mixtures to constantly win new shares in the country toilet market thanks to word of mouth.

These fillers are not without a number of disadvantages:

1. The need for constant purchase and delivery of peat mixture.
2. Inoperability of the toilet without filler.
3. Limited shelf life, especially in mixtures with bacterial additives.

These disadvantages are not a problem if there is free delivery of peat mixtures in the region or if a person has his own car in which he periodically travels to the city. The purchase of one 50-liter bag should be enough for several months of using the dry closet.

Tips for calculating peat filler

There are no uniform standards for determining the level of consumption of peat filler. The more you use it, the less unpleasant odors there will be, but financial costs will also increase.

Mixture consumption is important to consider when buying a dry closet. If a whole family is planned to live in the house, then it is better to buy larger equipment that will need to be cleaned once a month. When cleaning a large tank, you don't have to move its imposing structure outside.

You can portion out and remove waste biomass without worrying about unpleasant odors.

For a family of three, loading a 6-liter peat container is enough for 2 days, so refilling the dry closet needs to be done much more often than cleaning

The recommended amount of mixture for use after each visit to the toilet is 200-300 ml. Based on this norm, a 50-liter bag should be enough for a month with two people using the toilet every day. The indicated volumes of use of peat filler can vary greatly, depending on the method of nutrition, weight and age of the residents.

Comparison of popular brands of peat fillers

The basis of all peat fillers for dry closets is high-moor peat, but additional additives greatly affect the quality of the final product. The compositions of the most popular mixtures will be discussed below.

Blend No. 1 – Kekkila (Finland)

The company produces two types of mixtures: Kekkila and Kekkila Hajusieppo.

The Kekkila Hajusieppo mixture consists of 60% high-quality high-quality sphagnum peat and 40% dry sawdust. Packaged in perforated bags of 50 liters. The whole of each package is 15 kg. The recommended mass ratio of filler and waste is 1:2.

The financial benefits of a good peat mixture can only be noticed with long-term use and focusing on the level of unpleasant odors

The Kekkila mixture consists of 60% high-moor sphagnum milled peat with a low degree of decomposition, 20% dry sawdust and another 20% pine bark. Packaged in perforated bags of 50 liters. The whole of each package is 10kg.

The recommended ratio of filler to waste mass is 3:5.Due to the use of pine bark, the percentage of moisture absorption is slightly reduced, but the looseness and flowability of the mixture increases with a large amount of liquid waste. Ventilated packaging prevents the mixture from caking and prevents the development of putrefactive bacteria in it.

Thanks to the use of dried sawdust, the percentage of moisture absorption in fresh mixtures reaches 80% of their original mass. Such indicators increase the effectiveness of the filler. Therefore, despite the price of a 50-liter package of 550-600 rubles, the long-term financial costs of maintaining a dry closet are lower compared to cheap mixtures.

The manufacturer does not recommend storing the product at subzero temperatures because it loses its sorption properties. After defrosting, the characteristics of the filler are restored. In large dry closets, it is recommended to stir the mixture in order to enrich it with oxygen and prevent rotting processes.

Mixture No. 2 – Piteco (Russia)

The peat fillers of this company are produced from Russian high-moor peat with a low degree of decomposition from the sphagnum group using Swedish technology. Coniferous sawdust was added as a leavening agent, and dolomite flour was added as a deoxidizing agent. It also contains enzymes and microorganisms that accelerate the composting process.

This peat mixture is an excellent example of a combination of Russian raw materials and proven foreign technologies. As a result, one of the best peat fillers on the domestic market was obtained

Typically, bacteria are sold in separate packaging so that they do not begin the process of biodegradation of the filler while still in packaged form.But Piteco decided to simplify the maintenance of the dry closet and created a technology that made it possible to combine peat, sawdust and bacteria without compromising product characteristics.

The price of peat filler is 400-450 rubles per 50 liters or 15 kg. Peat mixtures from this company are an excellent choice for budget-conscious people.

Mixture No. 3 – Biolan (Finland)

This manufacturer extracts peat in Finland, and processes and packages the finished product in Estonia. The mixture is made from high-moor peat, clean crushed bark and sawdust from coniferous trees. The recommended ratio of waste to filler is 2:1.

Foreign peat fillers should be treated critically. If the price is high, then it is imperative to read the composition so as not to buy ordinary peat at the price of a high-quality mixture

If an unpleasant odor appears from the dry closet or excessive moisture in the mixture in the waste tank, you need to increase the consumption of the mixture by 25-30%.

There are no bacteria in the mixture, although its cost due to European production and Russian import taxes is much higher than that of Piteco. The cost of a 40-liter package is 520-570 rubles. The filler should be stored in a dry, warm place and be sure to close the packaging tightly if it is not used immediately.

The mixtures from this manufacturer are quite expensive, but their quality is also high.

Mixture No. 4 – PeterPeat (Russia)

PeterPit mixtures consist of crushed purified peat of Russian origin without additives. The shelf life is 3 years, although due to the lack of additional components, the mixture should not lose its properties even after a longer period.

Many Russian manufacturers of peat fillers make beautiful packaging and unreasonably inflate the price of their products, so choose a product based on its composition

The manufacturer recommends storing the mixture at temperatures from -35 degrees below zero to +40 degrees above zero. If the filler has been stored in the cold, it must be thawed before use. The cost of a 50-liter bag is 500-550 rubles, which is expensive for a mixture without any additional additives.

There are many other small producers of peat fillers on the Russian market, whose prices start at 300 rubles for a 50-liter package. Cheap litters are often made from transition peat and contain no additives. Because of this, the mixture formed in the dry closet has a lumpy structure, is prone to rotting and smells bad.

The most affordable companies in terms of price/quality ratio are Kekkila and Piteco, which offer proven quality at a good price.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The proposed video reviews will help you verify the simplicity of the design and maintenance of dry closets. The process of using peat fillers is practically no different from the manufacturer’s recommendations, so these videos will be enough to understand the scheme for using any mixture.

Construction of a peat dry closet:

Filling a peat dry closet with filler:

A comparative review of peat fillers for dry toilets showed that there are fundamental differences in the composition of their ingredients. Preference should be given to products containing enzymes, microorganisms and dry sawdust. They cost a little more, but their consumption is less, and their consumer characteristics are much higher.

Do you have personal experience using peat mixtures for dry toilets? Please share your experience, tell us what filler you use. Leave your comments - the feedback form is located under the article.