Can the Super Toilet Really Use Poo to Recharge Your Phone?

Exploring the science and future of toilets that turn human waste into electricity, water, and mobile phone power.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

Exploring the science and future of toilets that turn human waste into electricity, water, and mobile phone power.

Advancements in sanitation technology are turning the ordinary toilet into a high-tech solution for some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Imagine a toilet capable of converting human waste into enough energy to charge your mobile phone, generate clean water, and help solve global sanitation issues. In this article, we explore the innovations behind these so-called “super toilets,” diving into the science, the emerging products, global efforts led by the Gates Foundation, and the real potential for bringing off-grid, waste-to-energy toilets to both developing regions and future smart homes.

Why Do We Need Reinvented Toilets?

Globally, over 2 billion people lack access to safe, clean toilets, leading to health risks, contamination of water supplies, and environmental hazards. Rapid urbanization and population growth are outpacing existing sanitation infrastructure, especially in dense, low-income areas where sewer connections are impractical or unaffordable.¹

Poor sanitation accounts for the spread of diseases like cholera and dysentery.
Lack of wastewater treatment disrupts water cycles and pollutes ecosystems.
The Gates Foundation’s “Reinvent the Toilet Challenge” seeks to inspire solutions that capture valuable resources from human waste — including water, energy, and nutrients — while working off-grid and remaining cost-effective and sustainable.⁴

Turning Waste Into Resource: How Do Energy-Generating Toilets Work?

New-generation toilets are designed to extract value — not just dispose of waste. The core mechanisms include:

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)

Microbial Fuel Cells are bio-electrochemical systems that use bacteria to convert the chemical energy contained in organic matter (such as urine and feces) directly into electricity.¹

As microbes digest waste, they release electrons, which are captured by electrodes to produce a small electric current.
This electricity can be accumulated in capacitors and used to power LED lights, sensors, or even charge mobile devices.

Thermal and Chemical Processing

Other advanced toilets use a combination of thermal and chemical reactions:

Nano-membrane toilets burn solid waste in an airtight chamber to create ash and heat, while specialized membranes extract clean water vapor from the waste stream.²
Energy released during combustion powers the toilet’s operational mechanisms and, in some designs, provides enough excess electricity for USB charging ports.

The Science in Action: Key Innovations

1. Pee-Powered Phones: The Bristol Microbial Fuel Cell Project

Researchers at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory in the UK have successfully demonstrated charging a mobile phone with urine-powered MFCs. As Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulos notes, “using the ultimate waste product as a source of power… is about as eco as it gets.”¹

The current generation of devices can support basic functions like SMS, web browsing, and short calls.
Cascading multiple MFCs may support longer-term or higher-capacity charging in the future.
Potential integration in household bathrooms could power showers, lighting, or shaving units.

2. The Nano Membrane Toilet: Waterless and Off-Grid

Developed by a team at Cranfield University, this toilet functions without water or external power, making it ideal for urban slums and remote areas.²

Waste drops into a sealed chamber, where membranes separate and capture water vapor through a process known as pervaporation.
Solid parts are transferred via an Archimedes screw to a holding chamber, then combusted for heat and sterile ash.
The system reclaims water for washing or household use, while the energy generated charges small devices or powers the toilet mechanisms.
Smell is controlled by sealed designs and whirling mechanisms that replace the traditional flush.

3. Sensor-Enabled Toilets: Maintenance and Data for Smarter Sanitation

Sensor networks embedded in toilets monitor fill levels, helping trigger timely waste removal and reduce overflow risk.³

Ultrasonic sensors detect waste accumulation, send data via SIM modules, and alert maintenance teams when action is needed.
Integration with cloud software supports citywide monitoring and safer, more efficient waste management.

Thinking Beyond Flushing: Additional Approaches to Sustainable Toilets

A global push toward better sanitation has produced a range of solutions, including:

Solar-powered electrochemical toilets that break down waste, reducing pathogens and odors while recovering clean water.⁴
Biochar-generating systems that turn fecal sludge into charcoal briquettes for safe cooking or heating fuel.
Enhanced flush toilets that extract nutrients and recycle water internally to minimize fresh water usage.

Off-Grid and Attractive: Toilets for the 21st Century

New toilets aren’t just functional — they’re designed to blend into urban landscapes, encourage use, and meet the demands of both low- and high-income users. Features include:

Waterless and odorless operation
Eye-catching design suitable for dense urban environments
Minimal maintenance, often requiring only biannual servicing
Flexibility for community, home, or emergency deployments

Global Impact: Who Benefits and How?

Energy-generating, off-grid toilets have significant benefits across multiple domains:

Benefit Area	Impact
Public Health	Prevents disease outbreaks, reduces pathogen and contaminant spread
Environment	Reduces water pollution, recycles nutrients, supports sustainable water cycles
Energy Access	Provides off-grid electricity for basic needs, advancing energy equity
Economy	Cuts sanitation costs, offers job opportunities in maintenance/servicing
Climate Change	Lowers methane and carbon emissions through controlled processing

Challenges to Widespread Adoption

While the science is promising, there are barriers to scaling these innovative toilets worldwide:

Energy Output Limitations: Current MFCs generate modest power levels, enough for low-power devices but not yet strong enough for routine household charging needs.¹
Cost and Maintenance: Advanced toilets with membranes or combustion chambers require skilled maintenance and may be costlier than standard pit latrines.²
Cultural Acceptance: New designs and concepts must overcome user hesitancy about unfamiliar toilet mechanisms or recycled water.
Infrastructure: Even off-grid solutions may need some systems for waste ash/capture and periodic servicing.

Looking Ahead: Super Toilets in Everyday Life

Experts believe there is strong future potential for waste-to-energy toilets in:

Dense urban slums where traditional sewer networks are not viable
Disaster response and refugee camps lacking reliable sanitation and energy
Sustainable smart homes seeking off-grid options and eco-footprint reduction
Educational and community centers needing demonstration of eco-friendly solutions

The ultimate goal is to create systems that not only dispose of human waste safely but actually transform it into assets: clean water, renewable energy, and nutrient-rich products for agriculture, all while protecting public health and reducing environmental impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can you really charge your phone with a toilet?

A: Yes, in laboratory settings, microbial fuel cell (MFC) toilets have been shown to generate enough electricity from urine or feces to provide short bursts of power for basic phone functions and, eventually, battery charging.¹

Q: Do these super toilets remove odors?

A: Innovative designs—such as nano-membrane toilets—use sealed chambers, airtight combustion, or specialized membranes and fans to control or eliminate smell, making these toilets comparable to or less odorous than conventional ones.²

Q: What happens to the water and solid waste?

A: Water is reclaimed using high-tech membranes and can be used for washing or irrigation. Solid waste may be converted into sterile ash, biochar, or even nutrient-rich fertilizer, depending on the system.²⁴

Q: Are these toilets expensive to install and maintain?

A: Initial costs and maintenance needs can be higher than for pit latrines, but prices are expected to come down as technology matures and mass production begins. Some are designed to run for six months between maintenance visits.²

Q: Who is funding and developing these toilets?

A: Major players include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, global universities, start-ups, and public health organizations. Their goal is bringing safe, energy-smart toilets to the 2 billion people currently without basic sanitation.⁴

Summary

From microbial fuel cells to nano-membrane filtration, the toilets of the future are evolving into off-grid machines capable of turning human waste into power, clean water, and new opportunities. While challenges remain, these technologies point to a future where sanitation is not just about removal — but about recycling, reuse, and resource regeneration. Ultimately, the humble toilet could prove to be a key innovation not only in health but also in renewable energy and environmental stewardship.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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