Toilet tops
We've been experimenting with the use of Corian (better known as a kitchen worktop material) for our toilet tops. The one shown left is on a Full Access Composting toilet. We first trialled this material for the Zero Discharge (ZD) toilets supplied to The Royal Parks in 2014. One would normally expect toilet seats with lids and hinges to be replaced at least once a year in public facilities. The toilets in Richmond Park have now been in use for 8 years and have been used by hundreds of thousands of visitors but have not yet needed resurfacing; a simple 15 min job which involves rubbing back with very fine emery paper.
The narrow opening was also an experiment at Richmond Park and after 8 years can be considered highly successful. It reduces light transmission down the pedestal, regulates ventilation airflow, and is very safe for young children. It is now standard on ZD pedestals. Go to: Zero Discharge.
So, following on from the success of Corian for ZD toilet pedestals we decided to try using it on our best selling toilet, the Full Access Composter (FAC) seen above.
Our toilets tops for the FAC have been lacquered birch ply with a conventional plastic toilet seat and lid on top. Good quality Forest Stewardship Council certified birch ply is becoming very difficult to get and, for obvious reasons, we have not been buying material sourced from Russia since March 22. The plastic toilet seats have also become difficult to obtain, due either to Brexit or Covid; we are not sure which. So we are promoting Corian for these pedestals too. It costs us a little more but we are absorbing that for the time being and we hope that it will quickly be accepted for its hygienic finish and streamlined appearance.
A couple of years ago the Zero Discharge toilet split into two types; the ZD1 and the ZD2.
NatSol toilets aren't cheap but they are well made and should last you for decades with reasonable care. They are also much nicer to use than temporary toilets.
Due principally to increasing prices in raw materials we need to increase some of our product prices during 2022. The Full Access Composter and the Compact toilets will rise by approx 5% from 1st July. If we quoted you after 1st May and you order within 3 months of the quotation date then we will try to hold the price for you.
We have a large one of these tanks which we would like to clear. It's half as tall again as the one shown here and of a size we no longer make. It's for the Zero Discharge toilet and will take around 11,000 toilet uses before it needs to be pumped out.
A recently completed stand alone Zero Discharge toilet. This is one of eight supplied to Natural Resources Wales for Cwm Carn Forest Drive. The toilet is passively ventilated and needs to be pumped out after about 7000 uses.
We can now supply the Zero Discharge toilet with a NatSol Full Access building for remote sites. These two are on a coastal site.
We recently supplied a Full Access Composter for the Dark Sky Discovery Site in the Elan Valley. Stargazers now have a toilet facility to use during the night.
In an earlier news item we spoke about our involvement in a project to supply waterless toilets for National Trust sites in Wasdale. Wastwater is a SSSI and the National Trust needed a system which would not discharge anything to ground.