Most people who hear the words “waterless toilet” or “composting toilet” conjures up memories of the horrid stink of a dirty, fly invested old school outhouse or porta-potty.
Luckily, things have changed – nowadays there are more an more sophisticated waterless (composting) toilet options available depending on your needs – whether you are in an RV, tiny home, off grid cabin, remote luxury home or want to live more environmentally responsible.
PROS AND CONS:
Cost
Pro: The cost of getting utilities connected in a remote location or the cost of installing a septic system is a lot more than the cost of a waterless toilet/system.
Con: The cost of a waterless toilet itself is more expensive than a regular toilet
Environmental impact
Pro: The average family use more than a swimming pool of water in a year. Waterless toilets help in reducing your dependance on sewage plants that use chemicals to treat raw sewage. The compost from a waterless toilet can be used to fertilize plants.
Con: If the toilet isn’t maintained or the composted material isn’t properly disposed of, it could raise a health issue on your property and threaten the water table below.
Energy use
Pro: A good waterless toilet can be hooked up to a small solar panel to power the exhaust fan needed to help evaporate liquid waste.
Con: Waterless toilets require a small amount of power to run exhaust fans whereas traditional flush toilets use no power.
Style and size
Con: Some waterless toilets are bigger and bulkier than a conventional toilet, since there are several chambers and other components.
Pro: Some are smaller than conventional toilets and more suitable for tiny homes and RVs. More recent designs are more modern and could work in modern off grid or eco-friendly homes.
Smell?
Pro: Modern waterless toilets (if set up correctly) are 100% odourless and hygienic. They use sophisticated airflow systems and seals to neutralize any smells. Composting toilets have proven so effective at eliminating odors, some higher-end models have replaced traditional toilets in eco-conscious suburban homes.
Con: If set up incorrectly, they could have an unpleasant odour.
Practicality
Con: In some instances you might not be allowed to use a a waterless toilet so check with local code officials to make sure your home meets the requirements.
Pro: In locations where access to services is impractical or too expensive to connect, a waterless toilet might be one of the only options.
In conclusion, there are many pros to having a composting toilet, but also some cons. To help you make up your mind whether this is for you, watch the video below to find out more about composting toilets and why you might consider getting one:
Living Off Grid 101 