Have you ever wondered how the idea of our compost toilet urine diverter came to life? Here’s the story of how necessity, creativity, and sustainability led to its creation.
Like all great stories, this one begins with love. Suzanne and I were planning our wedding at our off-grid farm in the remote hills of West Wales. With 100 guests expected and only one flush toilet connected to a small stream—our only source of drinking water—we needed a practical, eco-friendly solution.
Being environmentally conscious and having both worked at the Centre for Alternative Technology, compost toilets were an obvious choice. They would help conserve precious water and provide extra facilities for our guests. However, building compost toilets meant solving a crucial challenge: separating liquids from solids effectively.
The First Compost Toilet and the Early Urine Diverter
As we planned our wedding, we also started designing a compost toilet. With help from a friend experienced in building wheelie bin compost toilets for UK Climate Protest Camps, we crafted a toilet from scrap materials. A wheelie bin served as the collection chamber, and we purchased a Separette urine diverter to manage liquid waste.
While functional, the Separette had its issues—it was prone to blockages and wasn’t readily available for future projects. Still, the compost toilet served us well during our wedding, and our guests had a wonderful time.
The Demand for Compost Toilets and the Birth of Our Urine Diverter
After the wedding, we posted photos of our compost toilet on the Free Range Designs website, thinking it might inspire others. Little did we know, we were about to embark on a new venture. A few months later, we were commissioned to build two compost toilets for a campsite in Hay-on-Wye. This required a streamlined design that could be flat-packed for transport.
However, sourcing urine separators proved challenging. The distributor we’d used had vanished, and after an exhaustive search, we came up empty-handed. That’s when innovation struck—why not design our own urine diverter?
Creating the Ultimate Urine Diverter
With a tight deadline looming, we turned to a friend who suggested vacuum forming as a solution. Armed with determination, a DIY mindset, and countless hours of research, we built a basic vacuum-forming system at home. This allowed us to produce our own urine diverters, designed to be durable, efficient, and easy to use.
The result? Two successful compost toilet prototypes, complete with our very own urine diverters, which we named “Gypsy Caravan.” These compost toilets were a hit with our clients, and the urine diverter became an integral part of our offering.
Why Choose Our Urine Diverters Today?
Years later, our urine diverter has become a trusted solution for anyone building their own compost toilet. Whether you’re creating an off-grid system, managing a campsite, or looking for an eco-friendly bathroom solution, our Complete Urine Separator Diverter for Composting Toilets offers the reliability and efficiency you need.
Learn more about our range of urine separators and diverters to see how they can support your sustainable living goals.
A Journey of Sustainability
From our small off-grid wedding to becoming leaders in sustainable bathroom solutions, the story of our urine diverter is a testament to innovation and eco-consciousness. Each product we create reflects our passion for sustainability and our commitment to solving real-world challenges.
If you’re embarking on your own composting toilet journey, let us help you with the tools and expertise you need to succeed.
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