Waterless toilets are becoming a favorite among homeowners in recent times, especially with the growing craze for eco-friendly living.

People are no longer irked at the thought of stinky, chemical laden toilets in their homes because now they know better.

What initially they perceived to be characteristic of waterless toilets turned out to be untrue.

Dry and composting toilets for houses can be as clean, comfortable and pleasant as conventional flush toilets with the added advantage of water saving abilities.

Why Use Indoor Waterless Composting Toilets for Homes?

A waterless toilet as the name suggests refers to a toilet system that does not require water in disposal of human wastes. Unlike the conventional flush toilet, a waterless toilet uses different technologies to dispose of wastes without water flushes.

If you are an environmental enthusiast the waterless toilet comes in handy in saving the invaluable resource in your home and saving Mother Nature from further human-induced damage.

Some of the technologies that waterless toilets use in waste disposal include:

• Composting– This is the process by which human waste is biologically broken down into compost that can be used in fertilizing soil. The toilets contain a composting chamber where the whole process takes place before the container is emptied through a sanitary process.
• Incineration– This is where the human wastes are subjected to a combustion process in an incinerating chamber. The burning process requires fuels for the process and the whole thing might be quite expensive.
• Poop Vaporizing– This technology works by vaporizing the 75% of water found in human waste to form minute dry turds that can easily be disposed.
• Nanotechnology– This green toilet backed by the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation works by pervaporation. This is where water is removed from poop leaving dry solids that have no parasites or pathogens and can be utilized as fertilizer or fuel.

Here are the 8 best indoor waterless toilets for homes:

• Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spider Handle Design
• Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle
• Sun-Mar Excel Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Excel
• Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Excel-NE
• Sun-Mar Compact Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Compact
• Sun-Mar Dry Toilet Elongated
• Sun-Mar Centrex 1000 Non-Electric Waterless Ultra Low Flush Central Composting Toilet System
• Chemical Free Odorless Portable Electric Waterless Toilet

1. Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spider Handle Design

The toilet is a self-contained and portable model that runs on a urine separating mechanism making it ideal for homes, cottages and guest rooms due to its convenience and size.

Features of the toilet

1. Durable and robust as a result of the stainless hardware.
2. No holding tank which makes the toilet odor-free
3. Comfortable  full-size elongated seat
4. Comes with a built-in fan which makes air circulation better for a fresh smelling environment.
5. Easy to install
6. Easy to clean and maintain. Routine maintenance practices will ensure you enjoy your facility better and longer.
7. Non- electric
8. No complex plumbing setup required

Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spiders Handle design is 22 x 20.5 x 21.7 inches in dimension and weighs 28 pounds.

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros

• Convenient and easy to use
• Waterless system
• Robust and durable
• Consumes less space
• Built with an onboard fan and vent hose for better smelling environment
• It one of the favorite composting models among users

Cons

• Small urine container which fill out pretty fast
• Difficult to clean out the solid wastes
• In case of a malfunction the toilet smells
• Cannot handle baby wipes or paper towels. Only toilet paper can be disposed into it.

2. Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle

Indoor waterless toilets for homes need to run on an efficient composting system if at all you wish to avoid bad odors and pests.

This is so because the faster the composting process the easier it is for the homeowner to empty the composting chamber to allow for fresh waste.

Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle design allows for faster composting as a result of its hand crank agitator in its base providing users with the ability to clean out the toilet faster.

Features of the toilet

1. The toilet is self-contained
2. Urine diverting mechanism
3. Built with a 12v power plug
4. It includes a bottle cap
5. 5’ vent hose
6. Fan available for low volume air circulation
7. Comes in a molded design

Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle design is 19.8 x 20.8 x 20.5 inches in dimension and weighs 27.2 pounds.

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros

• The toilet is odorless
• Sturdy and durable
• Easy to operate and use
• Maintenance is easy and straightforward
• No septic hookups required
• Waterless operating system
• Quick and stress-free installation process

Cons

• Toilet seat is a bit narrow for users
• Requires frequent emptying of the urine container

3. Sun-Mar Excel Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Excel

The toilet is an ideal indoor waterless toilet for homes since it is an odor-free self-contained model fitted with a bio-drum that facilitates the composting process without a stench emanating from the system.

Features of the Excel Model

1. The toilet is NSF/ANSI Certified
2. Easy to maintain.
3. Pest proof toilet so you won’t have to worry about gnats and insects.
4. Low profile unit and can therefore easily complement any bathroom.
5. A detachable footrest is included to serve short people who would find the toilet to be out of reach.
6. Built with an emergency drain and a venting kit to make it user friendly.
7. Includes a fan for better air circulation
8. Suited for high capacity use with one facility serving 3-4 persons in a residential setting. It can handle even higher number of users if installed for weekend use in a cottage or cabin, accommodating at least 6-8 persons.   

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros:

• No need for complex septic systems
• Odor-free system
• Waterless operation
• 100% non-polluting therefore is eco-friendly
• Minimal or no nuisance from pests
• Fairly priced given its features

Cons:

• Emptying solid contents of the drum can get a bit messy
• If not properly handled it may lead to hazardous leaks

The toilet is 33 x 22 1/2 x 33 in dimension and has a vent stack size of 2 inches. It weighs 100 lbs.

4. Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Excel-NE

Home owner seeking toilets ideal for off the grid applications will find this model handy. As one of the best composting toilets for home, the toilet is efficient in the composting process despite being non-electric and breaks down human waste without any stench emanating from the system.

Features of the Excel-NE Model

1.   Suited for high capacity use, at least 2-3 users in a residential setup and 5-7 persons if installed in a cottage or cabin for weekend use.

2. The model has a variable diameter bio-drum fitted with a recessed handle that aids in the efficient processing of compost. 

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros:

• It is NSF/ANSI Certified
• Waterless design
• Non-electric model
• Requires only one drain
• Includes a venting kit for better productivity
• 100% non-polluting

Cons

• There are cheaper models in the market

The toilet is 33 x 22 1/2 x 32 in dimension and has a vent stack size of 4 inches. Its standard weight is 90 lbs.

5. Sun-Mar Compact Self-Contained Composting Toilet, Model# Compact

This model is a favorite among homeowners seeking an eco-friendly waterless toilet system that emits no repulsive odors.

Features of the Compact Model

1. It is a self-contained model fitted with one drain and an emergency drain.
2. It is designed for single users in residential settings and 3-4 users for weekend use in cabins or cottages.
3. Fitted with a detachable footrest.
4. The toilet is built with a venting kit and has a venting stack size of 2 inches.

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros:

• 100% non-polluting
• Requires no water to run
• Comfortable and easily accessible

Cons:

• There are cheaper alternatives in the market
• Is an electric system therefore not ideal for off the grid applications

The Sun-Mar Compact model is 33 x 21 1/2 x 28 ½ in dimension and complements any bathroom. Its standard weight is 90 lbs.

6. Sun-Mar Dry Toilet Elongated

The Sun-Mar dry elongated model is not self-contained. The toilet is designed for use with the waterless Centrex 2000 systems and Centrex 1000 systems.

To operate it, an AF waterless kit is required and is purchased separately.

Features of the Sun-Mar dry elongated model

1. The toilet is 14 ½ inches high to the top of the seat
2. It comes with a regular sized toilet seat
3. A bowl liner that fits beneath the seat is included
4. Total height with lid up 16”- 31 ¼ inches
5. The unit depth is 23 ¼ inches
6. Unit width is 16 inches
7. The distance from the back to the center of the waste inlet is 11 5/8 inches (260 mm)
8. The minimum clearance between the toilet and the composter is 4 inches
9. Includes a vent system on all AF units that continuously draw down air to prevent odors in the bathroom

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros

1. Easy to clean as it allows removal of the bowl liner
2. Durable and robust- It is made of sturdy fiberglass
3. Odor-free

Cons

1. The toilet is not self-contained. It is designed to go with the Sun-Mar Centrex systems purchased separately

7. Sun-Mar Centrex 1000 Non-Electric Waterless Ultra Low Flush Central Composting Toilet System

This is another release from the Sun-Mar brand. The toilet was first listed on Amazon on 1.4.2004.

Features of this model

1. Weight is 100 pounds
2. Waterless system
3. Non- electric

The pros and cons of this model are:

Pros

1. Eco-friendly
2. Ideal for off-grid applications

Cons

1. Little information about its operation
2. The items dimensions are not given

8. Chemical Free Odorless Portable Electric Waterless Toilet

This is an indoor waterless toilet by the Laveo brand. It was first released on 18^th September 2014.

Features of the Chemical Free Odorless Portable Electric Waterless toilet

1. Electric- Ideal for on-grid applications
2. Uses refill bags
3. Allows for 17 flushes
4. Includes an air flow function

Pros

1. Portable
2. Convenient
3. Odor-free
4. Easy to clean and change out the refill bags

Cons

1. The refill bags can be quite expensive
2. Does not operate on the urine diverting mechanism
3. From user accounts, customer service seems to be poor

Conclusion

If you are looking forward to eco-friendly living then consider the indoor waterless composting toilets for homes. You have the option to learn how to make your own DIY composting toilet as well.

And given the wide variety of dry and composting toilets for houses, choose the model that best suits your needs and you won’t dread the experience of taking a dunk each time you really have to go.

Either way, go for whatever tickles your fancy. Good luck!