Composting toilet

When most people think of a composting toilet they generally envision a glorified hole in the ground. Fortunately, these ecologically friendly depositories are much more than a simple outhouse. They are a means of conserving water, protecting the environment, and of course, saving money. They are also becoming increasingly popular with homeowners across the country and are constantly being improved upon.

The difference between a standard toilet and the composting variety has to do with the way in which they dispose of waste. A standard toilet uses a rush of water in order to push the waste into either the public sewer system or into an underground septic tank. There are numerous problems inherent in this type of waste removal. One of the most important issues is that these systems waste a great deal of water in order to function properly. Each time a toilet is flushed as much as three gallons of water must be used, depending on the specific model of toilet. And even with a modern “low flow” design, the problem of water waste is still an issue.

Another commonly cited issue when it comes to standard waste removal has to do with chemicals and other byproducts of human waste seeping into the soil and ground water. Sewer systems in many of today’s larger cities are already strained and septic tanks can occasionally leak. Furthermore, the water used to move this waste through the system must then be systematically cleaned before it can be considered safe. All of this equals a great deal of not only time and effort, but also requires the use of chemicals and can result in a great deal of environmental pollution.

A composting toilet, by comparison, has none of these issues. These toilets require very little water in order to function, and in some cases, they require none at all. Instead, waste is deposited directly into a tank, where it is broken down into useable compost through the use of bacteria and the process of oxygenation. In those models that utilize rapid aerobic composting, moisture levels inside the composter must be maintained at a proper level in order to avoid unwanted odor (too much moisture) or slow composting time (too little water). Another variation is the “dry” toilet, which separates liquid and solid waste products. The diverted liquid waste can be used immediately for fertilizer, as it often contains a great deal of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Purchasing a composting toilet isn’t nearly as difficult as it was just a decade or two ago. The ever-growing movement towards environmentally responsible living has created a market for such devices, and the market grows larger each year. They are available through most reputable home improvement retailers throughout the country. They can also be found online, for those that do not have such a store in their immediate location. There are also a variety of plan sets that are available, if you prefer the do-it-yourself method. Whichever way you decide to go, a composting toilet can not only help you save money on your water bills, but they can do so while protecting the environment as well.