Are you environmentally conscious? Do you really walk your eco-lifestyle talk?
There are many people whose lifestyles reflect their beliefs as far as their choices are concerned. For instance, people advocating against cruelty to animals are likely vegetarians.
Those who are keen on their health and well-being will likely have a diet and exercise regimen as part of their life and style.
The same will apply to eco-friendly enthusiasts. In fact, you can remodel your green toilet to reflect your beliefs and lifestyle.
The Need for Green Living and Waterless Toilets
Climate change has been on the lips of world leaders and environmentalists around the world for a good while now. Humans and their activities have not been kind to Mother Nature, and in recent times, she has decided to fight back viciously.
Can we blame her?
Deforestation, dumping of chemical wastes from industries into water bodies, air pollution, and the list is endless.
It is now upon us to change our lifestyles or perish as a people.
And this is where green living comes in.
This is not an alien concept; in fact, when you properly adapt to it you will lead a truly wholesome life knowing you’ve played your part in reducing the carbon footprint on the planet.
One of the ways through which you can reduce environmental degradation is the use of waterless toilets.
40% of the world’s population struggles to access clean drinking water and dignified and safe waste disposal.
The conventional flush toilet in most modern homes does not help the situation. The facility consumes up to 6600 gallons of water while there’s a human population whose survival is compromised due to lack of this precious yet scarce commodity.
If this doesn’t nudge you towards green living, then I don’t know what will.
The Waterless Toilet Culture
Waterless toilet technologies are taking the waste disposal and sanitation landscape by storm.
Many homeowners who were skeptical about dry toilet facilities have come to appreciate that not only are they eco-friendly, most of them are cost-effective and easy to use.
The modern waterless toilet is hygienic, and if well maintained, will serve you as well as your conventional flush toilet, if not better.
This should dispel the fear of most users who are irked by the thought of a waterless toilet. Pests and insects should not be a nuisance either. Keep your waterless toilet refreshed, and you won’t have to worry.
Waterless technologies have kept evolving over time as more and more toilet developers strive to improve on what’s already available in the market.
The following are some of the most popular:
1. Composting
Thanks to its affordability and ease of use, the composting toilet is the most common waterless toilet. If it is well maintained, the eco-friendly toilet will work so well you won’t miss your water-wasting flush toilet.
Composting toilets work using the decomposition process where natural bacteria break down human wastes into compost.
For most people, what comes to mind is some really old-school facility, probably a box with a lid, each time a composting toilet comes up. Nothing can be further from reality.
There are more modern dry flush composting toilets currently making a splash in the market. In fact, composting toilets are not limited to home use. There are models of composting toilets available for the outdoors as well.
If your life is on the road or camping is your thing, then you will want to check out the composting toilets for RVs and caravans.
2. Incineration
Incineration in simpler terms means combustion. This is a waste disposal technology where human waste is completely burnt to sterile ash before it is safely discarded in sanitary conditions.
The process takes place in an incinerator where fuel such as natural gas, propane and diesel are used to torch the human wastes. The procedure emits a strong stench though it’s just for a while since the whole thing happens very fast.
3. Poop vaporization
This waterless toilet technology works through a process known as pervaporation where all the liquid wastes and moisture content in solid wastes are evaporated to leave completely dry turds as residue.
Most often, it is the liquid wastes that cause a stench in the toilet; therefore, when vaporized the solid residue is stink-free.
4. Nanotechnology
This is a green toilet technology that has received the approval and great financial support from Bill and Melinda Gatesc.
The technology which seeks to revolutionize sanitation and waste disposal especially in developing countries aims at generating energy from the end products of wastes. You can read more about the Nano Membrane toilet here.
The preference of a waterless toilet technology will largely depend on the suitability of the method in your area and the accessibility to available resources.
However, some of these waterless technologies are out of reach for most households since they require costly equipment to set up and operate.
The secret lies in going for a waterless toilet that is within your budget and won’t leave a huge dent on your pocket.
Cost-Effectiveness of Dry Toilets
The economical nature of waterless toilets is not only limited to their pricing but also the use of scarce resources like space and electricity.
There are waste management systems for green toilets that don’t require electricity to function.
They operate on either batteries or solar power, which are affordable and readily available, making them popular among homeowners living off-grid.
Moreover, since waterless toilets don’t need water to dispose of wastes, unlike the conventional flush models, they cut down on utility costs saving your hard-earned cash.
The waterless toilets are also a cheap alternative for waste disposal since most of them require freely and readily available materials to run and maintain.
A good example is the composting toilet which uses basic natural materials like coco coir and sawdust in decomposition of human wastes.
Unlike the traditional flush toilets that require complex septic hookups and plumbing works to operate, the waterless management system is easy to install and run.
In fact some of these waterless toilets are DIYs that don’t require expert help. Septic hookups are damn expensive and can only be set up in large spaces. This makes it inaccessible to poor households or those in remote areas.
Additionally, on-site treatment available when using waterless waste disposal systems make it affordable to sterilize end-products of wastes since it eliminates transport costs to off-site treatment plants.
Waterless toilets also minimize the possibility of contaminated water with chemical wastes or harmful by-products from flowing into nearby water bodies.
Finally, end-products from waterless waste disposal systems such as composting toilets can be sterilized and utilized as humus and manure to cultivate crops in edible gardens instead of costly industrial fertilizer.
To properly build a sustainable waterless toilet culture to effectively reflect your beliefs, here are the laws and building blocks that you should have in mind.
The Laws and Building Codes
The following are the 6 key questions to ask yourself as you cultivate a waterless toilet culture.
1. Are There Local Laws on Waste Disposal in My Area?
It is necessary for you to check with your municipality and ascertain whether or not indoor waterless toilets are allowed. Understand the dos and don’ts spelt out in the local toilet laws before settling for a waterless toilet.
This is because the waterless composting toilets are still unknown in some localities and failure to consult with authorities can land you in trouble.
Since the waterless toilet revolution is happening fast, some localities have fallen behind in updating toilet laws surrounding the hygienic treatment of human poop. Double-check with your local authority just to be on the safe side.
2. Is the Space Available Sufficient?
You might not need too much space for a waterless toilet but it’s important to always consider if what you have is sufficient.
Of course, space in this context is majorly to determine which waterless waste disposal system to go with, the best waterless toilet model and the design.
You won’t need extensive plumbing hookups and septic sewerage systems with waterless toilets so that should be the least of your worries.
3. How Many People Are Anticipated To Use the Toilet?
The higher the number of anticipated users, the larger the size and capacity of a waterless toilet. You don’t want a toilet within the home that overflows after every few visits. This will force you to frequently empty the toilet, a task that you might not find too appealing.
How long the toilet will be in use is also a major determining factor in the waterless toilet culture. If for the long haul, invest in a large-capacity model to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.
Also, the space factor helps in ensuring that there is proper ventilation within the unit.
4. Is Electricity Available in the Home?
Where electricity is not readily accessible to power your choice of waterless toilet then you may be forced to shift preferences.
In an off-grid location you are better off with a battery powered or solar powered waterless toilet. Otherwise there are a good number of electric composting toilets that will wow your house guests.
5. Can You Maintain the Waterless Toilet?
A clean toilet is a must-have. A poorly maintained waterless toilet can be your worst nightmare and if not checked, it can pose a serious health hazard.
Pests and insects are unsightly and poor hygiene in waterless waste disposal systems should no longer be an excuse.
Waterless composting toilets, for example, have readily available cleaning accessories, sanitizers and deodorizers to help in maintaining proper hygiene. In case of toilet malfunction, be sure to seek the services of a waterless toilet expert.
6. Are the Necessary Safety Precautions in Place?
Do you have all the necessary facts about building a waterless toilet for home use? Before you settle for any waterless waste disposal system ensure that you have safety precautions in place in case things get out of hand.
When cleaning the facility or handling the end-products from waterless toilets it is advisable to always use protective gear. Masks, gloves and overalls would suffice.
Ensure that you use the right products in your toilet. There’s only so much that a waterless toilet system can handle.
Enforcing a Green Culture
Waterless toilets are not the only way to save water and resources in the home. Here are other pointers that would reflect the green culture in your household.
- Install a low flow shower head
The bathroom area consumes the most gallons of water due to inefficiencies caused by extravagant showerheads. You can promote a waterless culture and your eco lifestyle by using an overhead shower with a restricted flow.
A low flow shower head will drastically reduce water consumption in the home and cut down on your utilities.
If you believe in green living then bathroom efficiency is key.
- Use motion sensor taps on the sinks
Sinks are some of the most wasteful equipment in the home especially where there are kids and they are left unchecked. Sensor taps will go a long way in curbing such wastage by ensuring water flows from the taps only when necessary.
The facets work by limiting water flow to only when they sense movement when washing hands or brushing teeth. You can choose to minimize the number of sinks in the home to further conserve water.
- Install Aerators on the Water Outlets
People tend to open water outlets such as facets to the fullest while in use, an action that causes unnecessary wastage of the scarce resource.
If you have a strong belief in green living, you can conserve water in your home by setting up aerators on the nozzles of the water outlets to boost efficiency.
This will ensure that you conveniently get high water pressure without necessarily using copious amounts.
- Practice Regular Maintenance of Bathroom facilities
The famed waterless culture requires that you regularly maintain your green bathroom to ensure leaks and malfunctions are identified before they cause extensive damage.
A poorly maintained waterless waste disposal system is a big disaster in waiting. Leaks increase the likelihood of disease and pest outbreaks and to keep your family safe from contamination and diseases in the home, regular maintenance is inevitable.
Using LED lights in the home and economically using water heaters also promotes a sustainable green culture.
Final Word
Does your toilet reflect your beliefs and lifestyle?
If you’ve gone green, the waterless toilet culture should be part and parcel of your everyday life. Let this be seen in every part of your home.
Your ecological footprint will speak for you.
