Toilets NZ is now Goodloos

Self Containment Certification – Nature’s Head

On 6th June 2023 the NZ Standard for Self-Containment of motor caravans and caravans NZS5465:2001 was changed by the Freedom Camping Act.

The following requirement was added to the existing standard which impacts the use of the Nature’s Head waterless composting toilet –

6.1 – The motor caravan or caravan shall be equipped with a toilet that is permanently fixed to the motor caravan or caravan, in accordance with the manufacturers instructions.

Since 2001 the Nature’s Head waterless composting toilet has been accepted for Self-Containment under NZS5465:2001, without modification. Unfortunately, the new Regulations now require the toilet solids bin to be emptied without removal of the base.

This means that you can no longer remove the Nature’s Head toilet base for emptying. The toilet base must be fixed to the vehicle, in position, and the waste needs to be removable from within the base.

Procedure for modifying your Nature’s Head for compliance.

The Nature’s Head waterless toilet is quite capable of operating as a dehydrating composting toilet without the need for agitation. So, to comply with the new regulations and gain the Green Sticker Self Containment Certification it can now be used as a ‘dehydrating’ toilet with urine diversion. This means that the agitator and the spider wheel are no longer needed and can be removed.

Procedure:

Dismantle your Nature’s Head, empty the base section and clean it thoroughly. Undo the nut and grub screw on the spider wheel agitator handle and remove it.

Then remove the agitator by pulling it out of the grey bearing, starting with the end opposite where the ‘spider wheel’ was – it’s the shorter axle of the two. You may need to ease this end out carefully with a claw hammer (see photo) or other lever.

Angle the end you just removed up towards the hollow behind the latch and rotate/wiggle the agitator so that the longer end of the agitator comes out of the bearing on the opposite side where the spider wheel was attached. The grey plastic bearings can remain in the sides of the base section.

Place the bottom bin back between the floor brackets and tighten the bolts. The toilet base is now ‘fixed’ to the vehicle. 

Keep all the parts removed so that your Nature’s Head can be reinstated as designed, if the regulations get changed back again in the future.

To use the toilet in dehydrating mode you will need to adopt the basic composting system of covering each addition of solids with a light layer of high carbon based dry vegetative material. We find that the most practical solution for this is to use Yates “Hauraki Gold” sphagnum peat moss, available from Mitre1o, Bunnings and most Garden Centres across New Zealand.

You’ll need a small container of this product and a small trowel in your toilet area. It’s not really practical to continue using Coco Coir if this has been your product of choice in the past. Other dry composting mediums such as non-treated wood shavings or course non-treated sawdust are other options to consider.

Previously you have used the bottom section of the Nature’s Head to contain the composting material. It’s now necessary to add a ‘chamber’ into the Nature’s Head to collect and contain the solids and peat moss additive. This can be done in one of two ways.

Obtain a square plastic plant pot from your hardware store to use as the “removable chamber”. The $6.00 black 10 litre 26cm square pot made by IP Plastics is a perfect fit (reorder code on the label is HFP100SQB – Mitre 10 product code SKU: 288169 ).

This pot can be used with a standard Armada 12 Litre Kitchen Tidy Bag as a liner, or if you prefer to use the pot on its own you will need to block off the drainage holes in the bottom with duct tape or similar product.

To start with, add a small amount of peat moss to the bag/pot within the base. After each use, sprinkle a light covering of peat moss through the trapdoor hole, over the latest ‘deposit’ and close the trapdoor. With the fan running 24/7 the solids (which are approx. 70% water) will dehydrate and reduce in size (mass), allowing a continuous batch process until the chamber needs to be emptied.

Emptying the toilet waste is as simple as releasing the side catches, angle the seat back, and remove plastic bag within the pot for disposal. Depending on the number of people using your Nature’s Head, you may need to carry a suitable sealable plastic box for storage of bagged waste until you are able to hygienically dispose of the composting material.

The bagged waste should be sealed in it’s bag, then placed into the box and the lid closed. Because the Nature’s Head is operating below it’s designed capacity you will need to remove the solids much more frequently than in the past when the agitator was used.

Your Nature’s Head must remain plugged in to 12 volt power so that the fan continues to run 24/7 ensuring the drying action and the aerobic breakdown of the material.

Version 1.0.0

Green Sticker Self Containment Certification for Campervans and Caravans