Composting waterless toilets are popular because they are a cheap alternative to the conventional flush toilet as compared to other waterless systems.
The composting toilet is one of the most common waterless toilets among households in developing countries.
There are different types of waterless systems from incinerating toilets to the nanotechnology and urine diversion flush toilets and so on, but various factors determine the suitability of each toilet for different households. The composting toilet comes in two different designs.
Types of Composting Toilets
Homemade composting toilet
The homemade composting toilet is a DIY composting toilet. The design is suitable for a small house since the huge bucket can easily be placed beneath a toilet seat.
This eco-friendly toilet is easy to use as basically what the user requires is sawdust that they can add to the vat each time they use the toilet.
For natural decomposition to take place, the waste is then collected and emptied into a compost pit or container. The composting toilet for home is affordable to most households since it mainly requires sawdust as its basic material.
Also, there is no need for a septic tank or plumbing works for it to function properly which makes it a cheap alternative to the traditional flush toilet.
Households can keep away bad stench from the toilet by using a funnel to separate urine from the solid feces. Dry solid wastes don’t emit any bad odor and the compost can be used on non-edible plants, shrubs or flower gardens.
Active composting toilet
The active composting toilet, unlike the homemade design, requires no active input. The toilet is designed to do all the work.
On installation, the composting container as with the common self-contained type can be placed within the unit or it can be remotely located in a different area, outside the house or beneath the toilet.
The active composting toilets run on either electricity or solar power. Non-electric models are also available.
To eliminate the foul smell from the system the toilet is fitted with a fan to boost aeration. In order to accelerate decomposition, this toilet design requires optimal temperatures for the heating processes.
How It Works
Composting waterless toilets are designed to decompose human wastes to form compost that can be used to enrichen the soil with nutrients and put on flowerbeds, shrubs, and non-edible plants as manure.
On-site treatment of wastes from composting toilets can also be carried out to eliminate transport costs to off-site treatment plants. How a composting toilet works contributes to environmental sustainability and conservation.
The toilets are inexpensive since they don’t need septic hookups that are known to be extremely costly to acquire, install and maintain.
When the toilet is used, the waste is collected and emptied into the compost container for natural decomposition to occur. It should be left to completely decompose before the container is emptied on to non-edible gardens.
The composting toilet should not emit any bad smell. If it does, then it’s a clear indication that it is not functioning properly. Regular maintenance should be carried out to ensure that the device does not malfunction.
Advantages
- Composting toilets are waterless systems. They help in environmental conservation by saving water that is normally used in copious amounts in conventional flush toilets. The waterless toilet saves more than 6,600 gallons of water annually for each person that visits the bathroom.
- The composting toilet allows for on-site treatment of wastes making the process resourceful and cost-effective
- Using a septic tank might be risky especially when water sips into the tank. It can be a health hazard as it emanates a foul stench making residents and households vulnerable. On the other hand, the composting toilet is safe. The humus is far much safer to use and can be applied in non-edible gardens.
- The use of composting toilets eliminates the potential threat of harmful by-products flowing into rivers and oceans. This helps in reducing environmental degradation.
- The toilet is cheap to maintain as it uses basic materials. It is possible to add garden trimmings and vegetable peelings with toilet waste to enhance the decomposition process in the compost.
- Composting toilets are hygienic. Batch system composting toilets enhance natural bacteria that allow the compost to kill toxins in human waste.
Disadvantages
- The composting toilet requires extra care and maintenance. It is relatively simple to build and use but will require more attention than a conventional toilet.
- If not well maintained, the toilet can exhibit potential foul odor and pests
- The composting toilets can be unhygienic, hazardous and unsafe to use if not properly installed and maintained.
- The toilet might be more expensive than low-flow models.
How to Freshen a Stinking Composting Toilet
Most people wiggle their noses at the mention of a composting toilet in their houses. This is because the thought of a stinking toilet and house full of pests is not appealing. But you can keep your composting toilet smelling fresh and pest-free. Here’s how.
Empty the Composting Toilet When Full
As soon as the end-product is ready for removal, empty the composting container. Depending on the size of the container, frequency of use and the climatic conditions in your area, you can determine how frequent the vat should be cleaned out.
You can use the compost either be as fertilizer in the garden or dispose of it according to local council regulations.
Ensure the Toilet is Properly Drained
When seeking authority to install a composting toilet in your residential area ask for the regulations on appropriate drainage and disposal of residual moisture from the health department or council.
You can keep the pile well drained to reduce moisture content and prevent potential odors by diverting urine away from the compost.
A poor composting process results in foul-smelling toilets. To treat any liquid runoff from the toilet, you can pass it through a solar evaporating tray or a watertight evapotranspiration trench. After treatment, it can be utilized as fertilizer.
Add Carbon-based Material to the Compost Container
Softwood shavings or dry leaves are bulking agents that make a great addition to a compost container when seeking to enhance the composting process and keep any foul smell at bay. The carbon-based material can be added to the pit on a daily basis or with each use of the toilet.
Add Hydrated Coco Coir to the System
Coco coir which is a completely natural by-product of harvested coconut and the coarse fibers from the outer shell’s husk can freshen a foul-smelling composting toilet.
Its excellent drainage and aeration abilities make it suitable for use in composting systems to eliminate bad odors in the toilet.
Conclusion
Composting waterless toilets don’t have to be installed in designated areas but rather where there is the need.
As opposed to water closets, they are flexible in the building of houses in residential areas since fixtures can easily be changed or adjusted without extensive wastages.
