Flush toilets come with numerous instructions on what they can or cannot handle.
Most of the time, a wrong move in the water closet system results in dire consequences such as blockages which disrupt the septic system and are potential hazards to human health.
Additionally, you know how installing a septic hookup is costly, leave alone the fixing and maintenance process. In effect, much caution is needed when using flush systems.
Waterless toilets, on the other hand, can handle quite a bit.
In this article, we’ll look at what your waterless toilet flush system can handle.
But first things first.
How Does a Waterless Toilet Work?
As the name suggests, waterless toilets function without using water in the process of waste disposal.
They make use of various technologies to discard wastes and improve sanitation in households while reducing ecological footprints through different water-saving methods.
The technologies vary in methodology with some vaporizing poop into dry solids before sterilizing it to kill illness-causing pathogens, others naturally decompose human waste into useful end-products, while others burn human refuse in incinerating chambers into ash for hygienic disposal in trash cans.
The type of waterless toilet technology applicable in a household or in an area will largely depend on a number of factors, including:
- The amount of space available
- The availability of basic materials and resources
- Affordability and cost of the toilet
- Number of anticipated users of the facility
Most waterless toilet manufacturers have their clients covered. There are vast waterless toilet designs and models that users can choose from depending on their needs, tastes, and preferences.
So, if you are interested in how to use a waterless toilet or you have one already, here is a list of what it can handle.
1. Tampons and Pads
Female hygiene products such as tampons and pads are designed and manufactured using highly absorbent material that expands when in contact with fluids.
As such, the products cannot be flushed down the water closets since they will block the sewerage system causing mayhem in the septic tank.
However, waterless systems are more accommodative. Since they don’t have complex septic hookups, there is completely no harm in flushing the hygiene products down the waterless toilet flush system.
In fact, biodegradable products can naturally decompose in composting toilets into end products that are useful in farms and gardens after sanitization.
2. Disposable Wipes
Flushable wipes, despite the normal go-ahead to dispose them down flush systems, tend to clog the sewers and septic tanks due to their thickness.
Most of the time, users are advised to avoid sewer abuse and throw the disposable wipes in trash cans rather than in water closets.
However, the waterless toilet flush system can handle the disposable wipes without any fear of clogging the sewer.
3. Hair
The thought of hair flushing down a water closet irks many people, and rightly so. Hair tangles and causes clogging in the septic tank causing a whole hell of system nightmares.
In fact, most manufacturers warn users against disposing hair in a water flush system since a buildup could occur in the long run, causing a malfunction.
But your waterless toilet flush system says bring it on. After all, hair decomposes in the long run and can be disposed in the composting toilets.
4. Paper Towels
Some toilets are yet to be given a green light for paper towel use in the system. One such example is the Nanomembrane toilet which is yet to commission the use of toilet paper in its system.
In fact, users are expected to separately dispose used tissue paper in separate trash cans. However, most waterless toilet flush systems can easily handle paper towels especially because there are biodegradable.
Despite being thicker than toilet paper and not breaking down as easily, paper towels can safely be disposed in waterless systems and you won’t need a plumber’s help to unclog anything.
5. Condoms
You know the gory details about flushing condoms down your water closet. They’ll clog your toilet faster than your plumber can pick your call.
Water closet toilet manufacturers advise users to discreetly wrap condoms before disposing them in trash cans.
And regardless of whether the condoms are wrapped in tissue or not, flushing in water closets is warned against.
But as you know by now, your waterless toilet flush system can handle it.
If the condoms are not biodegradable, an incinerating toilet will ensure the waste is hygienically and ecologically burnt before the ash is disposed of.
6. Band-Aids
Band-aids are plastic-made meaning they are non-biodegradable and unsuitable for disposal in conventional flush toilets.
Though difficult to decompose, the band-aids can be disposed in waterless toilets which use different technologies to safely get rid of wastes.
Again, an incinerating toilet or a dry flush toilet would come in handy.
7. Medication
Flushing drugs or medication down the water closet is not an acceptable method of disposal. It stands out at the top of the list of what not to flush down your toilet.
And this is not really a clogs issue, but rather a potential hazard given the risk of contamination of water supply.
Already, installation of septic hookups is a threat in itself should there be leaks in the system since this will lead to contaminated streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
The best way to dispose medication is through safe disposal channels outlined by local pharmacies.
But if that’s out of reach for you, your waterless toilet flush system will suffice.
8. Left Over Foods
Imagine flushing leftover foods down your water closet. And worse still, oil, fat or grease.
That would be disastrous right?
In fact, it would be a nightmare for your plumber as he unclogs the sewer, removing unprocessed leftover foods!
Yet waterless toilet flush systems are developed for such wastes. Composting toilets, for instance, would have no issues with food disposed into their tanks.
After all, they are made to break down wastes into compost for use as fertilizer.
Wrapping Up
Simply because a waterless toilet flush system can handle much does not mean you discard the manufacturers’ instructions.
This will go a long way in ensuring that your toilet does not malfunction due to careless or ignorant waste disposal practices.
