Many of us work hard to keep our home as environmentall­y well-disposed as possible . We switch to compactfluorescentlight light bulb , installbamboo floorsinstead of vinyl floor and lugsail groceries home in reclaimable canvas tent bags . But some of us may force the descent when it comes to ourtoilets . We want to preserve water . We may even have installed a humble - stream toilet , but the theme of sire up close and personal with our waste via a self - containedcompostingtoilet may seem like a bit much . With remembering of rancid portable stool and primitive earth-closet dancing through our creative thinker , we first need to be intimate , how green is this lav ?

In this clause , we ’ll take a look at the environmental impact of a self - contain composting stool , and whether it ’s a boon to the Earth or a crappy idea all around . First , though , let ’s go over how a composting commode works . The process works the same as the compost pile you may have for your kitchen scrap . aerophilous bacterium within the waste break it down with the aid of air , estrus and meter . Someone does have to stir material regularly , and add together stuff such as sawdust or popcorn to keep those bacteria at workplace . The resolution is an gross nutrient - filled organic matter know ashumus . One person would produce approximately 80 pound ( 36 kg ) of humous a twelvemonth [ author : Steinfeld and Anderson ] .

And where is this miraculous transformation taking position ? There are two kinds of composting toilet : self - containedandcentral . They do n’t look that different from your current commode . ego - contained compost toilets are smaller and are more likely to be found in cottage or seasonal homes . The ego - contained unit should n’t be used twelvemonth - round if more than two people are using it . As the name implies , the can and the composter are combine in one unit , so composting is use up place just under your commode . In a central system , the toilet is connected to a separate composter , which may be in the basement or on the side of the building . Central compost crapper have a fleck more capacity for year - round plate but are more expensive than self - contained compost toilets .

Both have the same goal , though : to destroy the pathogens andrecycleour excretory product without using water . alternatively of purge , the waste drops down a pipe to the composter , which is hide from view with a trap door or screen . But how much water is save ? Are there any hidden cost to the environment ? We ’ll see what all the stink is about on the next pageboy .

Green Benefits of Composting Toilet Systems

The mean American uses 74 gallons ( 280 liters ) of water per day , one - third of which splashes down a flushingtoilet[source : Steinfeld and Anderson ] . An old toilet may bury up to 7 gallons ( 26.5 liters ) per flush , though Union police now calls for 1.6 gallon ( 6.1 liter ) abject - flow manikin in new homes [ germ : Nash ] . Can we do considerably ? Acompostingtoilet may write more than 6,600 Imperial gallon ( 24,984 liters ) of water per individual a twelvemonth [ source : Steinfeld and Anderson ] .

Not using water to redden a commode also cuts out all the energy drop down the line , from the septic organisation to the handling plant . That could be good to our waterway . Take for case the Chesapeake Bay . About 1.5 billion gal ( 5.7 billion liters ) of wastewater flow into the bay every day from about 500 sewerage treatment plants [ source : Birdsong ] . As a result , much of the water is a dead zone , unable to keep brute and plants animated .

When barren is in water , it pulls all the oxygen out of the urine , but when put back into the priming coat , it has several benefits . Humus can aid other plants by provide food , counteract toxins in the soil and enhancing microbe that struggle off disease [ root : Birdsong ] . Yet there is concern that harmful pathogen may still be present , so many states require that the ruined product be taken to a treatment facility or buried 12 inches ( 30.5 cm ) underground [ source : Kahn et al . ] . This measure keeps the humus away from the victual in your garden , though some source do note that if no one that used the toilet was sick , then the compost may be in the unmortgaged [ source : Kahn et al . ] . you’re able to also have your compost try out for pathogens at a local science laboratory .

For a self - contained composting toilet to work on properly , ventilation is needed that can both keep the look out of your bathroom while allow enough oxygen for the compost to break down . With some crapper , this is done with fans and a heater power byelectricity(some models do not require electricity ) . Does this power consumption clog up the environmental friendliness of this toilet ?

The composter does have to be kept at a minimal temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit ( 18.3 degrees Celsius ) , so if you ’re endure off the grid , a heater could potentially require more electricity than you employ in the rest of the house [ sources : Abazs , Rosenbaum ] . The heater does n’t have to run all the meter though ; one model may only operate at a maximum floor of 540 Watt for about 6 hours a daytime [ source : Envirolet ] . But because self - contained poser are small , the power enjoyment for fans is evenhandedly minimum . It may range from about 80 to 150 James Watt [ source : LetsGoGreen ] . This is the same amount of force used by alight bulb[source : SunMar ] . An alternative would be to use solar panels to power the devotee and heater .

But do n’t forget adult male power when comparing water carry through against major power used . A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet note that most of the disadvantages associated with composting toilets touch to improper criminal maintenance . In many cultures , we are n’t used to dealing with our feces after they leave our eubstance , so decide what level of liaison you want with your waste may shift the scale in price of whether this is a green investment you ’re willing to make . If the composting system is n’t adequately managed by someone , this sewer can become environmentally unfriendly very fast .

Do n’t poop out on us now – turn the page to learn more about pot .

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