Most households are going green as people seek ways of lowering the environmental impacts of human activities on planet earth.

From solar energy built out of insulated panels to using grey water from backyards to water fruit trees, and using waterless toilets for home use to save the scarce resource.

Toilets no longer have to use copious amounts of water to dispose of human wastes.

The world today has embraced the use of technology to eliminate water usage in waste disposal and to find new ways of utilizing excreta in other important ways such as biogas harvesting, solar-powered hydrogen generation and so on.

But some people are still skeptical about building waterless toilets in their homes. The idea of a waterless toilet most likely conjures memories of old-school outhouse horror stories where the toilets were known to have the worst odors.

Who wants to switch from the conventional flush toilet with no smell to a waterless toilet for home use that has the potential threat of a stink emanating from the system?

Such fears can be put to rest since water toilets are hygienic and 100% odorless. In fact, technically the waterless toilets are simple and with proper maintenance, they play a big role in saving water and reducing environmental degradation.

The toilets are able to process human excreta into usable, hygienic fertilizer which make them functional and eco-friendly. One such waterless toilet is the composting toilet that requires no septic hookup and uses no water to operate.

A waterless toilet very much resembles a traditional flush toilet with the only difference being the absence of a flush valve or piping that sits above conventional units since no water is required to operate it.

Unlike the conventional water closets, the composting toilet requires a larger amount of space under the toilet floor and should be situated in a room that receives a lot of sunshine. This is because it works best under warm conditions.

When searching for a waterless toilet for home use, here’s what to look for.

1.      Local Laws

What are the local laws and regulations governing waste disposal in your location? Before settling for any indoor waterless toilet, review the regulations with your municipality to understand the dos and don’ts of human waste disposal.

Composting toilets have just started gaining popularity in recent times and might still be unknown in some locations.

Some localities are yet to update existing laws to account for the hygienic treatment of human wastes.

This majorly applies to the urban and suburban areas. People in the rural areas have access to more space and plenty of their own land making it easy to build a compost container.

Therefore, it is important to double-check with your local authority before you start using a waterless toilet for home.

2.      Size and Capacity of the Toilet

If you choose to go for an indoor waterless system, don’t settle for a small one. The smaller units have tiny trays at the bottom that you have to keep sliding out to remove waste which doesn’t really acquire sufficient mass to get the compost going.

How many people do you anticipate will use the toilet? How long will they be using it?

The capacity of the toilet is also important. Emptying it far too frequently because it feels up pretty fast due to its small size might be inconveniencing to most households.

Further, the smaller toilets might be smelly if there is lack of proper ventilation. However, the larger toilets also require proper vents for sufficient aeration.

3.      Amount of Space Available

Waterless systems require large amounts of space to install. The toilets require no piping but they must have sufficient space under the floor.

If your home is not so spacious, you might have to review the dimensions of the toilet and ascertain that it would match your available space before you make a purchase.

4.      Ease of Maintenance

Waterless toilets need a lot of maintenance work as compared to traditional flush toilets. Before building a waterless system ask yourself whether you are ready to put in the necessary maintenance work for the toilet to work properly.

You can opt for the user-friendly types although most waterless toilets come with a user manual that will assist in its care if read carefully.

5.      Electricity

You will have to consider whether or not you will opt for the electric or non-electric versions of waterless toilets. Composting toilets need electricity to work properly although you won’t have to worry if your location is not connected to electric power.

The non-electric version works as well for users without a steady supply of electricity. Some models are solar or battery powered so they will have you covered.

If using a composting toilet, the by-product can be applied in the garden, around shrubs and trees. It is however not advisable to use humus from the composting toilet in an edible garden unless it has been sterilized by a septic hauler in a treatment facility.

The Pros and Cons of Composting Toilets

Composting toilets have their advantages as well as limitations.

Pros

• Helps in saving water as opposed to the flush toilets. It saves more than 6,600 gallons of water annually for each person that visits the bathroom.
• The treatment of wastes on-site makes the process resourceful and cost-effective
• It is safe. Compared to the septic system or using a wastewater treatment plant, humus is far much safer to use and can be applied in non-edible gardens.
• It eliminates the potential threat of harmful by-products flowing into rivers and oceans.
• 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.

Cons

• Requires extra care and maintenance. The waterless toilet is relatively simple but will require more attention than a conventional toilet.
• Poor maintenance can lead to potential foul odor and pests
• If not well maintained they are unhygienic, hazardous and unsafe to use
• Might be more expensive than low-flow models

Households that are not comfortable using waterless toilets for home that are sitting right above composting tanks can opt for foam-flush or micro-flush toilets which can be installed in locations that are not necessarily above the tank.