Traditional toilets use water and either gravity or a propulsion system to remove waste from the bowl. The waste snakes through the pipes connected to the toilet until expelled into a septic tank or into a city plumbing system. A septic tank is a holding tank for waste water and sewage that feeds a drain field, which releases the liquid waste water slowly into the ground. When the home's plumbing empties into the city's plumbing system, the waste travels to a treatment facility where it receives various treatments including chemical additives and filtration. A composting toilet is completely different.
What Is a Composting Toilet?
A composting toilet empties waste into a treatment container. On many composting toilets the compost container is located in the base of the toilet, but on other models it is a separate container connected to the toilet with pipes. When waste reaches the compost bin, heat and mechanical arms dry and rotate the waste to remove excess liquid. Some of these toilets have separate compartments within the compost bin to keep fresh waste from contacting composted waste. When the container fills with compost, the user must empty the bin and can then use the compost as fertilizer. The composting toilet eliminates the need for water treatment facilities and septic tanks for toilet waste.
The Benefits of Composting Toilets
Manufacturers and many environmental advocates claim that composting toilets are better for the environment. Several different models are available, but composting toilets use little to no water and electricity. Water-less models require no plumbing, so they are easier to install than traditional toilets. Because of the lack of water use, these toilets are ideal for rural or drought-prone areas. Composting toilets produce fertile soil that is safe for use in planting beds, reducing the need for additional, purchased fertilizers.
The Drawbacks of Composting Toilets
Handling human waste, even with heavy gloves and in the form of compost, is not appealing to everyone. The cost of installing a composting toilet is higher than the cost of replacing a traditional toilet in an existing home. Depending on the model chosen, the cost can be significantly higher. However, when building a new home, a composting toilet is more economical when compared to traditional toilets because of the extensive plumbing that the traditional toilet requires. When a composting toilet malfunctions, is not emptied properly, or is poorly manufactured, the toilet can emit foul odors or fail to produce sanitary compost. In some cities and counties, the installation of a composting toilet requires an inspection and a permit.
The composting toilet has been an option since the early 1970s, but the early models often had faults that made them inconvenient as everyday toilets in the home, so they were relegated to cabins in the woods and RVs. Newer versions of these toilets have overcome many of the challenges the first models faced, making them a viable alternative to be considered.
Resources:
Vermont Law School: "Composting Toilets: Alleviating Regulatory Barriers to an Integrated Green Solution": Tara Franey. Accessed 7/31/2011.
Onsite Wastewater Demonstration Project: Composting Toilet System. Accessed 7/31/2011.
Chasity Goddard - Chasity Goddard holds a BA degree from the University of TN. Her wide-ranging interests and research skills pull her in various ...
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