Composting Toilets Your New Best Friend
Every year millions of gallons of water are used to flush American toilets. Most of that water ends up in a waste treatment plant where megawatts of energy (most created by coal/oil/gas) are used to process out the waste, or in a septic system. Septic systems are one of the main cause of eutrophication often leak and cause pollution and are far from a perfect solution to waste water.
In the U.S., approximately 40 percent of all domestic water consumed is flushed down the toilet. One person using an older 5.5 gallon flush toilet will use 13,000 gallons of fresh water per year to dispose of 165 gallons of body waste. New toilets have since moved to 1.6 gallons per flush, but as you can see this is still a large amount of waste water for such a small amount of waste.
What if there was a way to avoid all this wasted water, and wasted energy, while cutting down on the amount of nutrient pollution we put into the world? Just so happens that we already have a way. Say hello to the composting toilet.
We talk a lot around here about the more “sexy” ways to help the planet, sure solar panels are cool, and wind turbines are really amazing, but its often the smaller less glamours things in life that can make a big difference when it comes to saving the planet. Composting toilets allow you to “close the loop.” They make the perfect companion to a flower garden, let you reduce water use, save energy (and emit less Green House Gasses), prevent nutrient loading, and overall are a pretty cool invention.
So what makes a composting toilet different than a normal one? Composting toilet use natures own very efficient decomposing champions, bacteria, to break down your waste right where you make it. Think of it as a distributed waste reduction system. Instead of piping your waste miles to a treatment plant you take care of it in your own home. They do all this and still don’t stink. Every single composting toilet I have ever used has been completely odor free. Some accomplish this with clever air flow, some with other clever ways. These are not chemical toilets or porta-johns, it is nothing like going to the fair and sitting down on a stinky chemical filled tank of waste. Using a composting toilet is almost the same as using any other kind of toilet. Here are some videos to help you get an idea of how it would work in your home.
This is a video of the the self proclaimed “worlds finest composting toilet system” A bit cheesy but an interesting introduction to how composting toilets work.
Why is it that all corporate videos sound exactly the same? Same cheesy background music, same broad claims, same irony free announcer. If you can stomach the horrible music you will learn how composting toilets work. To be sure I have no idea if this particular composting toilet is the best, but composting toilets are getting better all the time. I have “test driven” several models and found them to be pretty much the same “user experience” compared to other toilets. I just used one from Clivus this last weekend that had a really cool foam flush. Instead of water it cleans with an alcohol/water mix that only uses 3 ounces of water per-flush.
Check out these other composting toilet resources.
from cityfarmer
more here
There is even a composting toilet blog run by our good friends envirolet. Its a pretty good resources for your (am I really about to type this) up to the minute composting toilet news (yep just did). Most of the entries have to do with Envirolet products, but its still a good way to see how people are integrating composting toilets into their daily life.
Wikipedia has a good page about composting toilets.
Here are some commercially available systems.
- Biolet USA
- Phoenix composting toilets USA
- ClivusUSA
- sun-mar USA
- bio-sun USA
- Composting Toilet Systems USA
- Cotuit Dry Toilets USA
- Ecovita USA
- Nature-loo Australia
- Biolan Finland
- Ekolet Finland
- blooloo Canada
- envirolet Canada
- Separett Sweden
- enviroloo South Africa
- Eco-toilet New Zealand
Want to make your own? Check out this DIY Composting Toilet From SCAT or this one from Ecowater.
- Posted in : Domestic, Environment, Pictures, Positive Change, Science
- Author :The Naib
Comments»
God, this is so awesome! So many more ideas for when I eventually own a home. Hmm, I wonder how you would start that conversation with a new landlord…Hi, here’s my first and last months rent, security deposit, brochure on composting toilets, biodiesel heating systems…. :)
I guess our 1994 produced video is a little out of date… watch for the new one on the bog screen soon…
Oops, I did mean big screen not bog.
Hi Scott: I dont want to sound harsh, I think your product is really really interesting and may very well be the best on the market right now. I felt the video was kind of cheesy. I am sure you have something new in the works that has a more modern feel. Keep up the good work :)
We do have something new in the works… I’ll let you know when it’s ready.
Then there’s always the little-discussed but actually very effective 5-gallon bucket plus sawdust method.
Step 1: 5 gallon bucket with a layer of sawdust on the bottom.
Step 2: Poop in bucket.
Step 3: Cover everything with sawdust.
Step 4: Throw it in a pile out back.
It doesn’t smell if you do it right. I swear to god. And you can build cute little wooden houses for your bucket. No need for a big fancy plastic jobbie like this, except maybe to make mom think you’re not insane for crapping in a bucket when she comes to visit.
That’s true. You can make your own CT or sawdust toilet with a 5-gallon or larger plastic buckey. And, it will probably work.
We are trying to cater to those who have no interest in making their own and want an in-the-bathroom model that is completely sealed for odour and liquid.
We also cater to those who want to follow local regulations by using tested & certified systems.
We’re really trying to make compost toilets more mainstream. But again, if you are the type to do-it-yourself –more power to you.
Hello Everyone!
I work for Sun-Mar Corp. We are a manufacturer of Composting Toilet Systems. In fact the picture at the top and the demo video in this blog are our units! Composting our waste just makes sense. Composting is a great way to eliminate the needless wasting of fresh drinking water. I’m very happy to see more and more people catching on to this.
The Naib, we would be happy to upload our corporate video as well?
For those in Massachusetts, give one a test:
“Places to try before you buy
Manufacturers should be able to give you a list of facilities you can visit. In addition, there are a number of public facilities in Massachusetts that use composting toilets:
Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA
Johnny Appleseed Tourist Information Center, Route 2, Lancaster, MA
Mass. Audubon, Visitor’s Center, Wellfleet, MA
Nickerson State Park, Brewster, MA
Salisbury Beach, Salisbury, MA
Walden Pond State Reservation, Concord, MA
Wallum Lake, Douglas, MA
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Waquoit, MA.” (from http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/wastewater/comptoi.doc)
[...] So how do we reduce water and save energy? Well heres a new toilet in town, they call it the composting toilet. Composting toilet uses natures own efficient decomposing champions, bacteria, to break down your waste right where you make it. Instead of piping your waste miles to a treatment plant you take care of it in your own home.These are not chemical toilets or porta-potties. Using a composting toilet is almost the same as using any other kind of toilet. The composting toilet does all this and still does not stink. You can Read and watch a video on how the toilet works on Sietch Blogs website. [...]
[...] So how do we reduce water and save energy? Well heres a new toilet in town, they call it the composting toilet. Composting toilet uses natures own efficient decomposing champions, bacteria, to break down your waste right where you make it. Instead of piping your waste miles to a treatment plant you take care of it in your own home.These are not chemical toilets or porta-potties. Using a composting toilet is almost the same as using any other kind of toilet. The composting toilet does all this and still does not stink. You can Read and watch a video on how the toilet works on Sietch Blogs website. [...]
[...] I had only been following posts and had been quite intrigued by thoughts of a more sustainable porcealin goddess. It seems that in keeping with the sexy campaign of the green movement someone should fill these [...]
[...] You may recognize the name Envirolet, they are the ones that produced that snappy video about composting toilets. Scott is also involved with the very cool blog Green Thinkers, and Envirolet [...]
[...] You may recognize the name Envirolet, they are the ones that produced that snappy video about composting toilets. Scott is also involved with the very cool blog Green Thinkers, and Envirolet [...]
[...] and has an online shopping cart for various composting toilet models. Finally, here is a great blog article at TheSietchBlog with engaging information, videos and discussion on composting [...]
[...] people even decide to take their composting to the next level with a composting toilet, but I’ll leave that for another article. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social [...]
Hey there,
I live in New Zealand, and have a Sun Mar composter loo, as pictured at the top of the page. On the plus side, it works pretty well, and the concept of course is excellent – and sooo obvious. Really if you’re sitting there, looking at the screen wondering if it’s all just a bunch of aging hippies going yeh-yeh, save the planet and pass me another scent stick, then forget it. Set up properly composting loos are very easy to live with.
On the down side, the model I chose is poorly made and I was pretty disappointed when it arrived. Subsequently the barrel winding handle has snapped! The unit was due to be turned over after I’d taken some new compost out to the garden, but it wasn’t overloaded. the thing just came away in my hands – it’s only a little over a year old. so choose carefully. I believe in composting but I wouldn’t buy a Sun Mar again.
[...] Composting Toilets Your New Best Friend {The Sietch} In the U.S., approximately 40 percent of all domestic water consumed is flushed down the toilet. One person using an older 5.5 gallon flush toilet will use 13,000 gallons of fresh water per year to dispose of 165 gallons of body waste. New toilets have since moved to 1.6 gallons per flush, but as you can see this is still a large amount of waste water for such a small amount of waste. read full article [...]
[...] So how do we reduce water and save energy? Well heres a new toilet in town, they call it the composting toilet. Composting toilet uses natures own efficient decomposing champions, bacteria, to break down your waste right where you make it. Instead of piping your waste miles to a treatment plant you take care of it in your own home.These are not chemical toilets or porta-potties. Using a composting toilet is almost the same as using any other kind of toilet. The composting toilet does all this and still does not stink. You can Read and watch a video on how the toilet works on Sietch Blogs website. [...]
this is the coolest thing in the world,i plan on installing one when i build my (tumbleweed type) home on wheels.it will be right at home with the gravity fed shower, batery gid, gas heat and stove and solar pannels. if you had ever seen the photos of some of these homes you will see you do not have to live like a pig in the woods the live small.some that i had seen are so,so, cool. i am sure the code enforcement guy will want the national guard to burn my home down but i will be with in the law.my only fear is that the local governments will make special new laws and taxes witch will again enslaves us and push real afordable houseing out of the reach of the commin man.
this is the coolest thing in the world,i plan on installing one when i build my (tumbleweed type) home on wheels.it will be right at home with the gravity fed shower, batery gid, gas heat and stove and solar pannels. if you had ever seen the photos of some of these homes you will see you do not have to live like a pig in the woods the live small.some that i had seen are so,so, cool. i am sure the code enforcement guy will want the national guard to burn my home down but i will be with in the law.my only fear is that the local governments will make special new laws and taxes witch will again enslaves us and push real afordable houseing out of the reach of the avrage man.