Composting toilets are a type of treatment system for human waste that doesn't use an ordinary septic or sewer system. They were first developed in Scandinavia, because this northern country lacks proper topsoil for a septic system. Most composting toilets are warm containers with good ventilation and a good population of aerobic microbes. These microscopic creates break down the waste, creating a fluffy and near odorless compost, similar to the substance that comes out of garden compost bins. The end product is often used on fruit trees, flowers, and in other situations where the finished compost won't directly touch any food. While there are some people who feel that fully composted human waste isn't a danger (after all, the dangerous microbes are gone by the time the compost is done), it's still considered to be better safe than sorry. This means that it's good to avoid using compost from a composting toilet directly on a vegetable garden. Lawns and flower beds are fine, however!
Many people are turned off by the idea of a composting toilet. They remember poorly ventilated, smelly outhouses and portable toilets, and think that a composting toilet will be like these. However, if your composting toilet is working correctly, there will be no smell at all. The decomposition that goes on is a rapid, aerobic action, the opposite of the anaerobic decomposition process that goes on in an outhouse. Aerobic microbes break wastes down quickly and without odor. Anaerobic microbes are slow, and cause unpleasant smells. The latter type cannot survive in the presence of oxygen, and if you smell something, that means that your composting toilet isn't working properly.
Most composting toilets are made up of three basic parts. There's a seat, a composting chamber, and a tray for drying. Many models combine these elements into a single piece, but some have separate seats with a composting chamber under the home or in a basement. The drying tray is always placed under the composting chamber, and there's usually a removable drawer that you can use to take the finished compost out. Since most of what goes into a composting toilet is moisture, sometimes they can suffer from too much water. Some composting toilets deal with this by having a separate chamber for urination, but this can be clunky or difficult. Others use evaporation, with an overflow that can be pumped to an auxiliary septic system. To make sure that evaporation works as well as it should, good air flow and warmth ought to be provided. All composting toilets have a vent pipe that rises vertically and carries off moisture. Some electric composters also use a vent fan and small heating element. The function of a composting toilet can also be improved by adding a cup or so of high carbon bulking agent, like popcorn, wood chips, or peat moss every day. This material will soak up extra moisture and help evaporation work properly.
The cost of a composting toilet varies. Many models run well over a thousand dollars, which can be a bit much for some households. However, for situations where a septic field is impossible, or where a new one would have to be created, a composting toilet can be convenient and less costly than the alternative. Composting toilets are also good for the environment, because they keep us from contaminating our ground water. That makes them a smart choice for a growing number of households.
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