If you are considering purchasing a toilet composting system, it is likely you have many questions about how to choose, maintain and use your system. Here are some of the most common questions people ask when researching, installing and using a toilet composting system:
What are composting toilets and how do they work?
Composting toilets are an important alternative to flush toilet systems. Unlike the sewage or septic-based flush toilet system, composting toilets rely on little or no water in dealing with human waste. Instead, composting toilets turn human waste into a valuable soil additive that can be used as a soil amendment. Users will generally add organic brown matter to the toilet (such as sawdust or peat moss) instead of water. Basic toilet composting systems rely on either a series of containers or a large centralized composting chamber. For a full description, read What are Composting Toilets?
How are composting toilets good for the environment?
Toilet composting systems benefit the environment in multiple ways. They can play a major role in preserving one of the world’s most important and rapidly diminishing resources: water. They also produce a valuable end-product (compost) that can improve the environment and less reliance on chemical fertilizing products. Composting toilets can also lessen the threat of groundwater contamination (from septic systems), environmental pollution (from broken sewage pipes), and help recycle all sorts of organic household waste. For more information, read “What are the Environmental Benefits of Composting Toilets?”
How safe are composting toilets?
The short answer is completely safe, when used properly. When not installed and used according to specifications, however, they may pose health risks – just as septic and sewage systems also pose considerable health risks when used or maintained improperly. For a full discussion, read the entire article “Are Composting Toilets Safe?”
Where can I put in a composting toilet system?
Some people confuse composting toilets with outhouses or pit latrines, assuming they must be installed outdoors. This simply is not true. Most current toilet composting systems are built for indoor use (the exception being certain portable composting toilet models). Most are meant for household use, but there are many other locations that composting toilets can be installed. Increasingly government facilities, national parks and colleges are installing them both because of their benefit for the environment and society, but also to serve as demonstration projects for the public. For more ideas about where toilet composting systems can be used, check out the article “Where Can Composting Toilets Be Used?”
What do toilet composting systems cost?
If you are actively searching for a toilet composting system, this is probably a major question you have when comparing it to other waste disposal systems. Although composting toilets may initially seem much more expensive than a flush toilet system, there are many hidden costs in the latter, and some research will show that composting toilets are usually the best choice financially. Not only do they costs considerably less than installing a septic system or paying sewage fees over time, but you will also save on water and be producing a valuable end product as well. For complete information, read “How Much do Composting Toilets Cost?”
What can I put in a composting toilet?
Besides the obvious (human waste and toilet paper), you will find that your composting toilet is a wonderful way to recycle a wide variety of organic waste that your household produces. Everything from kitchen scraps, shredded paper, coffee grounds and even yard waste can be put into your toilet composting system. For a full discussion and many more examples of what can go into your composting toilet, read “What Can You Put In a Composting Toilet?”
How do I dispose of the end-product of the toilet composting process?
The end product of toilet composting is humus, or compost, and it is a valuable soil additive. Some refer to this end-product also as “humanure” and you can use it to fertilize trees, bushes, flowers and more. For a full discussion, read “What is Humanure and What Can I do With It?”
For more articles and information, you can return to the Toilet Composting homepage and search through the archives of dozens of useful articles about different aspects of building, purchasing, maintaining and using composting toilets.
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