The benefits of composting toilet systems are easy enough to understand: you can save hundreds of gallons of water while turning toxic human waste into odorless earth-friendly nutrients.
But how does the process work? Composting toilets are an ingenious alternative to energy-intensive waste management strategies, a powerful combination of our ancestor’s knowledge and modern engineering. These toilets are simple – but that’s why they’re so effective!
The Basic Mechanics of Composting Toilet Systems
There are two basic types of composting toilet systems…
central and self-contained.
Central systems are very space efficient – the waste container/compost bin is usually located under the floor or at the side of the home. Bins can come in sizes ranging from single person to family capacity. Waste either drops straight into the composter, or it may be flushed through a pipe with models that use water.
Usually, a handful of special activator (usually carbon-rich organic matter) is dropped into waterless versions instead of flushing. In flushable models, the activator is inserted directly into the storage bin. Once the waste is in the compost compartment, this activator helps to break the solids down using aerobic bacteria that naturally exists in our feces.
Central units are often heated, but usually the heat from the decomposition process is more than enough. Liquids evaporate in the process and are outdoors with the gases and odors through an exhaust pipe, sometimes with the help of an electric fan.
Self-contained systems work the same way, except the entire compost bin and exhaust system are contained within the base of the toilet. These are great for cabins, basements, and other areas that don’t get around-the-clock use. Usually self-contained units use a batch composting process, which requires the bin to be removed and replaced with a fresh one halfway through the composting process.
Everything turns into compost eventually – these toilets just speed up the process. Although human compost is not recommended for use near edible plants, you can still feel free to use these rich nutrients in your flowerbeds or around other decorative plants.
You don’t need to be an environmentalist to appreciate the efficiency and vast economic benefits of composting toilet systems!
