Alternative to septic, but approved for commercial / food processing facility

Looking for a toilet option that doesn't require a septic, but that would be approved for a rural food processing facility. There is not sewer hookup available, and the septic system would be a permitting pain and very $$$ ... Any alternatives that pass code/standards for a commercial building? Or are sewer/septic toilets the only approved options?

Have you spoken with your code officer to see what was required or are you making a guess? You may get far by just being frank about budget and environmental concerns with him/her and seeing if they have any suggestions for you. With some ingenuity you may be able to reach a workable situation for all.

Jordan Struck wrote:Looking for a toilet option that doesn't require a septic, but that would be approved for a rural food processing facility. There is not sewer hookup available, and the septic system would be a permitting pain and very $$$ ... Any alternatives that pass code/standards for a commercial building? Or are sewer/septic toilets the only approved options?

You ask first about toilet... most places will accept a commercial composting toilet, but then you say "food processing facility" and so I am wondering if there is other waste involved. A lot of places still have "sanitary pit privy" on the books as legal too.

As above, ask. See if there is a copy of the building code in your library too. It may have solutions your local building inspector is not aware of.

The "food processing facility" part is that its a barn where we press cider (we have an orchard)... The Dept. of Ag considers changing the consistency of your fruit as being part of a food processing operation... which makes for more regulation and noses in your business.

Jordan Struck wrote:The "food processing facility" part is that its a barn where we press cider (we have an orchard)... The Dept. of Ag considers changing the consistency of your fruit as being part of a food processing operation... which makes for more regulation and noses in your business.

Let me check out my assumptions...
Temporary use (low occupancy in some places) only part of the year.
A place employees can use a toilet
Also need a place they can wash... I would think some chemical solution would work for that, maybe with a water rinse. (I would want a water rinse to get rid of said chemical even if the law does not require it)

My first reaction would be "Port-a-potti". If they are good for construction sites, or outdoor fairs (where they serve food BTW) this is much the same. The ones I have seen anymore come with the chemical (dry wash) built in. A privy would serve the same purpose.

The rules are different for low occupancy building than a dwelling. Ask what they are in your area. Do you even have (have to have) running water?

Yup, every state, every county sets up their own regulations.

We have a county permaculture organization that has a kitchen. They also use a composting toilet in their facilities.
We also have a pick your own farm and store with his and hers bathrooms they simply built out on a deck with barnwood walls and toilets screwed in to the deck. It's very rustic looking, but simple and effective, straight to a septic set up.

Composting toilets used to be very expensive, right up there with a DIY low-end septic install. Have they gotten cheaper?