The Compact is one of Sun-Mar’s smaller composting toilet models, but it can hold its own when installed in a residence or a vacation home. The Compact is designed to be used when you have tighter spaces. Installations include, but are not limited to: cabins, cottages, homes, yurts, pool houses, cabanas, bunkies, camps, treehouses and workshops. Read below for testimonials from Sun-Mar customers who have brought a Compact home.

Thank you for your amazing composting toilet! My partner and I live in a beautiful refinished barn in rural Oregon. It is not plumbed and the Sun-Mar composting toilet sits in a stall decorated with photos and hangings from all over the world. We have been so pleased to not have to trudge through the Oregon rain to an outhouse or up to our main house in the middle of the night! We have been impressed that the toilet can take our fairly consistent forgetfulness about emptying the drawer. In the two years we’ve had it, it has never smelled, nor caused a problem. What a miracle! We hope to build a larger community in the country eventually, and the houses will be peppered with your composting toilets.” – Amy S.

“We installed the Compact after struggling without success with another composting toilet for many years. The Compact is used daily for 4-6 weeks each summer and then for occasional weekend use the rest of the year. It works wonderfully!” – Louise P.

“This cabin has been in my family for 40 years. We have no running water and for 37 years had an outhouse. The Sun-Mar Compact is the best investment we ever made – and at a fraction of the cost of a well and septic system. Using the bathroom at night no longer involves shoes, coat, and a flashlight!” – James M.

“Our septic system had failed. Being on an island in the St. Lawrence River. replacement costs were estimated at $3000 to $5000*. After much research it was decided to purchase the “Sun-Mar” Compact.” – Dale L.
* Depending on your location, septic replacement costs can be upwards of $10,000 in 2025.

“Composting toilets are not used in this part of the country as much as they are up north. We and our guests really appreciate our composting toilet @ “The Fishing Cabin”. Remind your customers that after spending a weekend at their cabin, when they get home, they have to flush (our guests have gotten so used to not flushing, they forget to when they get home).” – Nancy G.

“We do not have the option of a traditional flush toilet at our summer place. We put in a gas incinerator toilet first, then heard about Sun-Mar composting toilets. Our Sun-Mar is much easier to maintain. The folks at Sun-Mar are very helpful. Keep up the good work.” – Sally and Chuck S.

“The bed in our camping shed is only 2 feet away from the Sun-Mar which is situated behind a partial wooden partition. We were a bit concerned at first that there might be an odor problem but there has never been so much as a whiff out of our Sun-Mar. Also it operates so quietly that we are barely aware of it — very much appreciated after a hard day of sawing and nailing. We can honestly say that the only time we were disturbed by an odor was the night a skunk decided to rummage around underneath the camping shed. Ugh! You’ll have to take our word for it that it’s sitting there quiet and odor-free, just inside the door to the left.” – Marie and Bob F.

“WCM* serves two toilets. Drain hooked to septic system line since we had to have system installed. Compact serves auxiliary use when working outside or in shop.” – Dan E.
*The WCM is a composting toilet model no longer produced by Sun-Mar. The closest comparison would be the Centrex 1000.

“We treat the compost obtained like any other compost, it goes into a composter near the garden, garden soil is added to it in layers. When removed later, it is spread around the base of shrubs and small trees. The result is very positive. The 1/2″ emergency hose is always connected in case of excess liquid.” – Luc and Hilde F.

“Our family has spent many happy days at our “very basic cabin”. We have electricity but no running water. Our compost unit is ideal. We have no closing concerns for the winter. Just flip a switch. There are no problems with frozen or broken pipes. And our environment is protected – we are totally satisfied.” – Charlie and Alma S.

“Due to County changes in the Code we had to install a composting unit. We have been very happy with the unit. We have only used Sun-Mar products as instructed. Our cabin is only used for summer fun but the whole family enjoys it. We have had no odor problem which was a major concern when we decided to install the unit.” – Richard G.

“Works great – weekends up to 5 adults. Compost great for flowers and shrubs. We use it year round and are very happy with performance.” – Dean T.

“We are very pleased with the Sun-Mar Compact electric. We have been using it for 2 years and I have had no problems. Sometimes as many as 20 people use it in one day and it holds up very well.” – Ralph G.

“We closed in part of the back porch to create a second bathroom and a laundry room. The Sun-Mar works well and avoided the necessity of installing a second septic system. The small stool makes it easier for the grandchildren to use the Sun-Mar, but we all use it.” – H.R.W.

“I’ve used your composting toilet on a daily basis for the past five years. There have been cold, rainy, winter days when I’ve *hated* having to slog out into the woods to bury a wheelbarrow full of compost, but all in all, the toilet has served me well. It is serving me ESPECIALLY WELL at the moment, because our well, like so many others around here, has all but dried up. We’re all praying for RAIN! One-third the normal rainfall this past year is not something we’re used to dealing with in this (rainy) part of the Northwest! Anyway, I have an operating toilet while others are hauling in water to flush theirs. I might also add, that your product and your ‘service’ are absolutely TOPS; I’ve enjoyed every contact I’ve had with your company!” – Julie W.

“It has been called the world’s most elegant outhouse – Actually, it is obviously not “out”, though one has to go outside to the back of the cottage to get there. I have been generally satisfied with my Compact, since solving the problem of insufficient absorption due to too fine peat moss – I now mostly use fallen and partially decomposed pepper (California pepper) leaves which are very small and brittle and seem to work well.” – Jane C.

“We purchased the Sun-Mar Compact composting toilet. Followed your instructions for leaving it for the winter. Upon our return, we followed the instructions to re-activate the Compact. I am the sole occupant of our cottage – with several guests during the summer – and it is doing a good job.” – Jean P.

“Bob says his wife Bonnie and family are very pleased with their Compact which is “easy to use, very sanitary, no odors and very attractive”. The cabin is used by three generations and up to four people “on a weekly basis”. Although it is way above design capacity, Bob says the Compact “easily handled 8 people on weekends”. For the sake of the Compact, we hope the fourth generation doesn’t arrive just yet!” – Bob H.