Compost toilet wins national award

Sheffield City Council and South Yorkshire Forest have received a national award from the Royal Institute of Architects for their unique composting toilet at Ecclesall Woods.

Recycled sawdust and shavings line the bottom of the toilet to catch deposits, producing a rich, harmless (and odourless) compost; no flushing is required.

The toilet uses three large wheelie bin type receptacles, which are rotated.

Once full, the bins are left to compost down for a year and then the soil is used in tree planting schemes.

Trainee architects from Sheffield University worked with Council staff from the Sawmill and ecobuilders Handspring Design to come up with the innovative design.

Councillor Bryan Lodge, Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Green Spaces at Sheffield City Council said: “The composting toilet is an exciting addition to the site and is Sheffield’s first. It is a unique and beautiful piece of sustainable design that truly deserves this award. We aim to continue development of the Sawmill site and ensure that it links back to the heritage of the woodland and produces sustainable products from Sheffield timber.”

The timber used is from locally sourced wood, mostly ash and oak that has been milled up at the sawmill and recycled.

Ecclesall Woods Sawmill is a sustainable working woodlands project at the heart of South Yorkshire’s most important ancient woodland. Sheffield City Council manages the Sawmill.

With the help of an Objective 1 forestry resource grant from the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership, the site is emerging as the focal point for the region’s wood and timber industries.

The Woods, which cover over 100 acres have been awarded the Green Flag, are the largest ancient woodlands in an urban area

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