o maintain proper functioning. If a compost toilet is well maintained, the product of decomposition should smell like forest soil. If the compost toilet is well maintained, the heat built up in the composting waste pile will kill most if not all of the pathogens, the volume of material in the toilet will be reduced drastically by conver- sion of the organic matter to gas (which goes out the vent), and what is left can be safely buried in the garden. A poorly maintained compost toilet will stink, urine and feces will accumulate, and the whole mess will be quite unpleasant to clean up. Before you install a compost toilet, recognize that it is a biologi- cal system just like your own body, and commit to the regular care and feeding of that system. ONSITE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL Figure 7.9 Large volume composting toilet. Design There are many designs for compost toilets, ranging in sophistica- tion from a modified septic tank to an automated technological mar- vel. If you want to buy a ready-made compost toilet, keep a few things in mind: In general, larger is better because larger systems can withstand occasional upsets without going belly-up; in general, small systems should have a fan and heater to evaporate liquids; and in general, name brands are preferable because the product has been proven through use. Ask your dealer to supply you with a couple of names of people who have bought the same kind of com- poster you are considering, and give them a call. Also, there are several excellent books on compost toilets. One which reviews the characteristics of several brands is Goodbye to the Flush Toilet by Carol Stoner. Another good book is The Toilet Papers by Sim Van der Ryn. Check with your library or bookstore. Also, the National Sanitation Foundation can provide some compost toilet evaluations. Write to NSF at P.O. Box 1468, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106. Figure 7.9 shows an example of the large type of compost toilet. The chamber in the photograph, a Clivus Multrum, is usually LOW-IMPACT SYSTEMS located in a basement. T