Have you ever wondered what the mantra going green means and how you can play your part in the universe?

Well, it’s not a foreign concept and it’s definitely not as difficult as most people assume it to be.

Going green simply means eco-friendly living.

There have been circumstances that have led environmentalists to push for the green slogan world over.

Once you adopt the eco-friendly living you will embrace the benefits of waterless toilets.

But first things first.

Why Go Green?

Global warming has been a growing concern among the human population. The planet earth has endured massive degradation as a result of human action.

From logging of trees to dumping wastes in water bodies, contaminating soil will chemical refuse from industries the list is endless. And the effects can be felt far and wide.

Water has become a scarce resource, meteorological have changed and become adverse, diseases have become a norm due to waterborne and airborne infections just to mention a few.

The need to go green cannot be overemphasized. Eco-friendly living should be a part and parcel of every human being of goodwill if we are to save planet earth. If we are kind to Mother Nature, Mother Nature will be kind to us.

Using a waterless toilet is one simple way that you can help reduce the ecological footprint on the universe. The waterless toilet has numerous green benefits.

Reducing the amount of water used in toilets or simply going completely waterless is a great way of ensuring environmental sustainability.

Reusing or recycling wastes to avoid channeling them to landfills is also fundamental in improving sanitation and keeping disease-causing pathogens at bay.

Green Benefits of Waterless Toilet Systems

Waterless toilets are popular in developing countries where water conservation is fundamental. In situations where water as a scarce resource is not sustainable for proper human waste disposal and improved sanitation waterless toilets come in handy.

Conventional flush toilets are known to use copious amounts of water with more than 6,600 gallons of water consumed annually for each person that visits the lavatory. Waterless toilets save water.

Waterless toilet developers offer models that do not require electricity to operate. The green toilet can either be solar powered or battery powered making it an environmentally friendly toilet system.

Additionally, since the system is waterless, it eliminates the potential threat of harmful by-products or chemical wastes flowing into water bodies such as rivers and oceans.

This has been a hazard to the aquatic life and the use of waterless toilets protects water sources from contamination. It helps in protecting the natural habitat of aquatic life and also reduces environmental degradation.

Conventional flush toilets make use of septic tanks which can be hazardous especially when water from the tank sips into groundwater.

When water mixed with human wastes sips into the groundwater whether directly or indirectly, the foul smell and contaminated water are potential health hazards to residents and make households vulnerable.

Waterless toilets are safer on the other hand because they don’t require any plumbing works or septic hookups.

Composting waterless toilets, for instance, are simply built with a compost container beneath the toilet which can be appropriately and sanitarily emptied as soon as it fills up with waste or compost.

Also, the toilet technology for waterless systems like the nanotechnology which uses the process of pervaporation works by removing water vapor from fluid refuse and sanitizing it before condensing it back to water. This makes the water from such systems safe to use.

Another green benefit of waterless toilets is the recycling of nutrients. One of the benefits of composting toilets is the use of the end product of compost as humus in planting non-edible gardens and shrubs.

The end product of compost acts a substitute fertilizer that is biologically friendly to be used instead of the industrially manufactured options that tend to contain abrasive chemicals.

Waterless toilets are cheaper to maintain compared to traditional flush toilets since they make use of basic materials that are eco-friendly.

Composting toilets, for instance, utilize vegetable peelings and garden cuttings such as dry leaves which when added to toilet waste enhance the decomposition process in the compost.

Additionally, composting toilets are hygienic. The batch system composting toilets enhance natural bacteria that allow the compost to kill toxins in human waste and decompose the waste into useful elements such as carbon dioxide and water.

Waterless toilets especially the composting design allows for on-site treatment of wastes making the process resourceful avoiding potential hazards to the population that is experienced with off-site treatment plants.

This also makes the waterless toilet systems cost-effective.

Limitations of Waterless Toilets

As much as the waterless toilets are hailed for their green benefits to households and the environment, the systems have their limitations.

Using waterless toilets calls for extra care and maintenance compared to the conventional flush toilets.

Despite being relatively simple to build and use, the toilets require more attention and neglecting proper hygiene practices even for a short period can lead to grave health hazards.

Poor hygiene and maintenance can also lead to potential foul odor and pests that can cause diseases to the users.

Waterless toilet systems such as composting toilets can be unsanitary, hazardous and unsafe to use if it malfunctions due to poor installation and maintenance.

Also, the waterless toilets tend to be more expensive than the low-flow models in some instances.

Conclusion

Environmentally friendly toilets are a must-consider as an alternative way of waste disposal and sanitation in households today. The need to save water and conserve the environment has never arisen at a better time.

But before you settle for the green toilet, it’s important to consider various factors.

What are the regulations governing waste disposal and sanitation in your area? How much space do you require to install the waterless toilet?

How much space is available? What is the size and capacity of the green toilet that you require? How many users do you anticipate?

Once you comfortably answer these questions, then you’ll be in a better position to acquire a waterless toilet that will meet your needs and serve its eco-friendly purpose.