Review By: Kay Melmer

Product Star Rating:

Every living organism consumes nutrients and creates waste. To transform waste back to nutrients and complete this cycle, nature uses the processes of decomposition and evaporation. As often the case, nature seems to do this in the best possible way. There are many advantages of recycling and simplifying your needs. Many people are aware of composting toilets, particularly those in the alternative movement; they are using composting in their gardens. They start the regeneration of the Earth’s precious environment.

Many people do not think about where their sewage and waste goes after flushing. A lot of people may think that a composting toilet is an outhouse toilet, possibly an unpleasant memory from a camping trip. Well, this is not the case. Composting toilets are far from being outhouse toilets! They range from simple twin chamber designs to advanced systems with rotating tynes, temperature and moisture probes, and electronic control systems. They are very effective biological converters of human and household waste. They save money and energy for many people and communities. 

One of the most popular brands is the Sun Mar composting toilet. One of their more popular models is the Sun-Mar Centrex 2000-NE. It is designed for heavy to medium use in a cabin/cottage or light residential home. For a little better idea, the seasonal use capacity would be six adults or a family of eight, and for residential use it would be three adults or a family of five. When used on a seasonal basis compost will usually need to be removed annually each spring. For residential use that is more frequent, compost will have to be extracted regularly.

For a traditional type of toilet in the bathroom the Sun-Mar Centrex 2000-NE family low flush systems is ideal. Centrex family low flush systems are designed for use with a Sealand 1 pint flush toilet. The Sealand in the bathroom is connected by a standard 3” plumbing pipe to the composting unit which is below the toilet and normally within 15-20 feet. A Sealand one pint flush toilet is required for use with this unit and is sold separately. The Sun-Mar Centrex 2000-NE can be used with more than one Sealand low flush toilet.

The unit is shipped fully assembled and its dimensions are H x W x D: 27 x 46 x 27”. It is a non-electric unit for those with no continuous 110 volt power supply. All Sun-Mar composting toilets incorporate a patented bio-drum which ensures fast and odorless decomposition. The unit uses little water, saving you thousands of gallons of water, while recycling waste into safe fertilizing useable soil. The system has no odor and is certified and listed by the NSF (National Science Foundation). It is fitted with a 4” vent stack and installation of a 12 Volt fan is optional, and is recommended for heavy seasonal use, residential use, or where the installation is particularly subject to downdraft or being surrounded by high trees or hills. We also recommend the fan if you need to install a bend in your vent stack.  Sun-Mar offers electric and non-electric models.

The 2000 series units are supplied with a 1” drain hose which should be connected to the 1” drain at the bottom of the unit. This is for handling excess liquid.  Every electric unit is supplied with a power cord & pre-molded plug that connects to a standard (3) pin 115 Volt outlet. This powers both the fan as well as the heating element. For non-electric models, 12 Volt fans can be installed in the stack and connected to a battery which draws from an alternate source of energy, such as a solar panel.

All electric units also include a ½” safety drain in case of emergency. This should be connected during heavy use, residential use, or when power outages are anticipated.  NE (Non-electric), AC/DC, Space Saver Models and Sun-Mar Mobile units are all fitted with 1″ drains, which should be attached to a drain hole, some type of container, or other facility.

Sun-Mar Centrex units serve as a reliable year-round facility. During the cold winter months it can be prepared for continuous or periodic use. During periodic use in the winter, the unit may be used as a holding tank. If your Sun-Mar Centrex will be in use frequently in the winter, or in a residence where the temperature remains above 55 degrees F at all times, this ensures composting remains going.

When you receive your system it comes with a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty on the fiberglass tank and 3 years on the parts replacement of all other parts. At no extra cost the system comes complete with everything needed to install and operate the unit:  of course your owner’s manual (specific to each unit), a 30LB bag of peat mix (all Centrex 2000 and Centrex 3000 Models come with 2 bags), dried bacteria for getting the unit started, as well as a rake for periodic clearing of the evaporating chamber. Your Vent Stack and every central unit includes a diffuser vent cap for a 2″ or 4″ pipe as appropriate and a “Compost Quick” enzyme for speeding up the composting. The only exception is the 3″ plumbing pipe and fittings needed to connect a 1 pint flush toilet to a central composting unit.

One of the main tasks is the installation of the vent stack, which is included with all units. All vent pipes are thin wall PVC and each vent kit includes all pipes, fittings and vent intake assembly. Also included is a waste inlet assembly for every central unit. The complete waste inlet piping kit for A/F units is a ten foot 1″ diameter drain hose. There is an evaporating tray placed under the drum screen to catch any excess peat moss.

Every Sun Mar unit is an odor free environment engineered by the air flow from within the unit. This maintains a partial vacuum at all times. Air being drawn in from either the fan or from the vent chimney on the non-electric units moves through the evaporating chamber and out through the vent stack. This evaporates the excess liquid, as well as continuously pulls air in to ensure that no smell escapes from the unit. The evaporation in electric units is assisted by a thermostatically controlled heater that is in a sealed compartment underneath the evaporating chamber.

The Sun-Mar features a unique Bio-drum that ensures aerobic microbes flourish to go to work quickly breaking down waste and converting it useful soil for the earth. Peat mix and waste bulking material enter through the inlet port for waste located at the top of the drum. To aerate and mix the compost on the self-contained units simply rotate the drum periodically by turning the handle on the front of. On the central units this is on the side. The inlet door closes automatically during the rotation keeping the compost in the drum.

When you are ready to empty compost from the Bio-drum, simply rotate the drum backwards after releasing the drum locker. The inlet port in the Bio-Drum will open automatically and compost will drop directly into the finishing drawer of the compositor.  The Bio-drum locks itself in a top dead center position after rotating. It is then ready to receive new material. One of the advantages of having a separate compost drawer for finishing is that composting can be completed without contamination from fresh waste in the drawer. The compost is gradually dried in the drawer until ready for removal.

The two functions the finishing drawer serves are to receive the compost in an isolated container that is easily accessible. The other is to complete the sanitation and composting process. Once this is complete the compost can be safely removed!

Sun-Mar toilets produce no pollutants while collecting nutrients and are designed not only to harness these natural processes, but to optimize and accelerate them. Toilet waste is over 90% water content. This can be evaporated and carried back to the atmosphere through the vent system. The small amount of remaining material is recycled into a useful fertilizing soil. Another great advantage is wherever there is a poorly working septic system; a Sun-Mar can take care of the toilet waste. Sun-Mar units are economical, quick to install and easy to use. Because no chemicals and no septic systems are used, fragile environments can be protected. A Sun-Mar composting unit is an environmentally healthy choice for recycling human waste.

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