Vermicomposting Flush Toilet: The first in Malaysia?

I’m absolutely thrilled to be completing the internal mechanisms of a vermicomposting flush toilet at zone Sasha where the worker’s quarters are located. This project has been delayed for 6 months but finally it’s nearing completion.

Embarking on this project has been giving me the jitters by virtue of the fact that I believe it’s never been done before in Malaysia (please shout out at the comments to prove me wrong; I need all the technical guidance I can get from you out there!). Hence, there’s a million and one things that can go wrong.

Due to factors of permanence and the improbability of relocating/changing the sewage processing method, I can’t afford to have a system failure. If I run into problems, I will have to sort this out myself until it works. That’s scary with no local and real world time-tested experiences to fall back on.

Once the IBC tank’s content are moistened and 500gms worth of worms are deployed, I would need to let the system settle for 2 weeks while the worms do their thing to settle in their new home, before it’s “launched” with the first dump of human poop. I wait in anticipation!

Dried vetiver grasses as my carbon material to soak up moisture.

Carbon materials added as the primary medium in which the worms will settle.

Some food waste, banana peels and compost to activate the system. Once the incoming piping water is ready, I will flood the tank and soak it through before putting the worms.

The incoming 4" pipe to be installed. — The incoming 4″ pipe to be installed.

Once a 3-4" layer of gravel is added, a plastic netting is placed over it. — Once a 3-4″ layer of gravel is added, a plastic netting is placed over it.

A layer of bricks to raise the IBC tank off the ground to prevent rust setting in on the cage.

Drilling holes on the 4" drain pipe. — Drilling holes on the 4″ drain pipe.

Setting up the 2" draining pipe from inside. — Setting up the 2″ draining pipe from inside.

The tank is placed amongst the shade cast by the toilet structure and some star fruit/durian trees. It will be partially surrounded by the dug earth. This cool living condition is crucial for the worms.

Why a vermicomposting flush toilet? A proven working model for redeployment elsewhere in consultancy works. An educational subject matter. A conversation piece. A living monument of sustainability. A cultural necessity. The arborloo composting dry toilet isn’t as universally acceptable in the Asian context as compared to a regular flush toilet.

In my opinion, conventional septic tanks are inert and “wasteful”. In a truly zero-waste farm setup, waste should be non-existent. Every last trace of nutrient should be recycled and reused. That’s the goal.

I will be sharing the industrial/minimalist-inspired design of the toilet interior soon, along with the soak away filter beds later.

Vermicomposting Flush Toilet: The first in Malaysia?