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Do Composting Toilets Work?

Composting toilets, also called biological toilets, don't release waste into a sewer system or septic tank. Instead, these toilets hold the waste, either inside the toilet or in a special storage tank, until it breaks down into rich compost suitable for use on non-food plants. These toilets can replace your conventional fixtures, but smaller models may not be suitable for large families. Most composting toilets are safe, effective and efficient, as long as you use them the way the manufacturer or designer intended.

  1. Moisture

    • According to Biolet, a composting toilet manufacturer, most composting toilet systems need between 45 and 75 percent moisture to work. Too much moisture encourages anaerobic bacteria, which produce smells and problems. Too little moisture can kill the microorganisms that do the composting. Keeping your toilet properly ventilated, adding mulch as required and frequently mixing the compost can help keep moisture levels consistent throughout the compost.

    Temperature

    • Composting toilets also need to maintain a certain temperature inside the compost to keep the composting process going. The microorganisms that break down human waste do best at temperatures between 68 and 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Toilets can function at lower temperatures, but they take much longer to work and require a much larger storage chamber. Temperatures below 64 degrees can cause composting bacteria to go dormant. Many commercial composting toilets use supplemental electric heating to encourage healthy bacterial growth, but this is not necessary if the room is the correct temperature.

    Oxygen

    • The microorganisms inside composting toilets are aerobic bacteria and need oxygen to survive. A fully functioning composting toilet should have good ventilation or a system to mix air with the compost in order to keep these bacteria alive. Active composting toilets usually have an automatic electric system to mix the compost correctly. Bathrooms with composting toilets should have good ventilation, whether the toilet is an active system or a passive one.

    Carbon Ratio

    • Human waste contains high nitrogen levels, which can disrupt composting if carbon is not added to the compost. Most composting toilets require the addition of mulch to reduce moisture level, keep the compost from compressing and maintain a good carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Some commercial toilets are designed to use a proprietary mulch. Many designs work well with chopped straw, dry leaves, wood mulch, shredded paper and other cellulose material. Failure to mulch can cause your composting toilet to stop working.

    Compost

    • Composting times can vary significantly depending on how often you use the toilet and whether you maintain ideal composting conditions. Most residential toilets need to be emptied once every few months, while toilets at vacation homes and cabins can go up to a year without emptying. The finished compost must be removed by hand, usually from a drawer at the bottom of the toilet, but should not smell or contain any recognizable waste. Finished toilet compost looks just like garden compost and can be used in the garden and landscape on any non-food plants.

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Green
  1. Ergonomic Workstations
  2. Do Birdbaths Work?
  3. Do Grass Plugs Work?
  4. Do Bed Risers Work?
  5. Composting Sanitation Systems
  6. Balcony Composting
  7. Designing a Composting Toilet
  8. Which Toilets Work Best?
  9. Manure Composting Systems
  10. Sludge Composting
  11. Tunnel Composting
  12. How Jayco Baja Toilets Work

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