Do you have to empty a composting toilet?

Composting toilets are required to be emptied; however, the method and frequency vary depending on the model, its capacity, and usage. Composting toilets may need to be emptied once a month or more.

Can you use toilet paper with a composting toilet?

Yes, you can use toilet paper with a composting toilet. Look for eco-friendly toilet paper that is manufactured from sustainable sources, like recycled paper. Also, look for toilet paper that breaks down quickly but is also productive to reduce your overall consumption.

Do I need a septic tank if I have a composting toilet?

A septic tank is not required for a composting toilet. They mainly work the same as a septic tank, by storing waste in a composting tank where it will decompose. The major difference is that a composting toilet does not use water, and requires both heat and aeration to decompose.

Do composting toilets smell bad?

A composting toilet that is properly vented and managed will not smell. Temperature and airflow must be maintained so that the composting process will effectively occur. Certain systems maintain negative air pressure in the composting tank, and that restricts odors from being released back into your home.

Are composting toilets sanitary?

Composting toilets are a sanitary waste management tool when they are operated and maintained properly. However, the compost produced may not be suitable for food crops. If certain conditions are not met in your composting tank, dangerous pathogens can still be present.

Do I need a permit for a composting toilet?

In homes with a pre-existing septic system, a permit is not likely required to add a composting toilet. In newly constructed homes that are wanting to use a composting toilet as a primary waste management option, certifications or codes may need to be met. It is best to consult your local waste utility to ensure you follow local waste management policies as they can often change.

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Composting Toilet

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A composting toilet, also known as a biological, dry, or waterless toilet, processes human waste and toilet paper into compost, instead of flushing the waste with water.

Many models of composting toilets are available. Consider the capacity you need because many of them are small. Some systems have a handle that requires periodic mixing, and some need an additive, such as a bulking agent (wood shavings or sawdust). You have to be careful about what goes in - no plastics or other non-compostable material - and the composted fertilizer product needs to be taken out. Since composting toilets do not reach a high enough composting temperature to guarantee the destruction of pathogens, the use of the composted waste is not recommended. Digging the fertilizer into the ground as a soil amendment for orchard crops such as fruit trees is a good use because the fruit crop does not contact the ground directly.

By eliminating the use of water, a composting toilet reduces not only water consumption, but also the energy and chemicals required for upstream water treatment, and the downstream waste treatment process. It also uses a waste product to create nutrient-rich fertilizer.

The Humanure Handbook, written by Joseph Jenkins and published in 1994, is quite likely the most popular book about human waste composting in modern history. The author's company has gone on to produce three editions of the book, and a simple composting toilet they call the "Loveable Loo."