Eco-friendly comfort

So...after making do with our bucket toilet system for awhile we eventually went with the composting toilet, Porta Potti and so far we love it!
                 

                           

It made me think why on earth we don't have these in our own toilets, but then the reality of handling the composting in built up areas may not always seem so realistic. In the countryside it works perfectly!
My treasure took great pleasure in assembling the Porta Potti and explained that the bottom and top sections are filled with water and a neutralizing solution that  wards off odours and also rinses the toilet bowl. 

There is a lever on the side (along with the toilet paper) of the toilet that opens a shutter door within the toilet. Once you are finished you just push a button which releases a swish of water and pushes everything down into the top section of the toilet. The shutter is then closed inside the toilet.

Just in the front below the toilet seat there is a green indicator which lets you know when the  tank is full and needs to be emptied.

Now let's take a look at what we needed to do before we could even install this beauty.

Oba chan previously had a squat style toilet which was very typical in Japan years ago and are still used today throughout Japan. However with modernization the western style is now more widely used. As Oba chan grew older the squat style was becoming difficult for her to use, so she placed a sit down style over the top of the existing. So this is what we were confronted with in the beginning.

While this looks similar to what we installed, look what was under it.....

                                         

The ceramic and floor boards were pulled out to reveal the pit underneath.

A panel of thick ply board was installed, but we plan on adding wooden flooring over the top for extra strength and for aesthetics.

We couldn't be more happy with the results of our new toilet, but it seems that the eight legged residents also enjoyed hanging out on the walls and behind the basin sink tap! In Australia we have songs written about the spider in the toilet, but when you are confronted with not one but Mr & Mrs Spider you are at first freaked out, but after awhile you learn to co-exist when nature calls.

So, what do you think? What an improvement, right! But this is a project that is definitely~

 TO BE CONTINUED.