The Hot Scoop on Alternative Toilets: Innovation, Ecology, and Humanure
Discover how composting, urine-diverting, and waterless toilets redefine sustainability and sanitation for homes and communities.
As concerns about water conservation, pollution, and sustainable living grow, more people are rethinking the basic act of flushing human waste. From remote farmsteads to urban community gardens, alternative toilets such as composting, urine-diverting, and waterless systems are emerging as modern solutions to age-old problems. This article explores the functions, advantages, limitations, and real-world stories behind these eco-conscious sanitation options.
Why Alternative Toilets Are Gaining Attention
The average flush toilet can use up to 1.6 gallons (6 liters) or more of water per use, making it one of the largest water consumers in many homes. As droughts intensify and cities confront the cost of treating tremendous volumes of sewage, it’s clear that traditional systems are ripe for innovation.
Alternative toilets are designed to:
- Reduce or eliminate water use
- Transform human waste into valuable compost or fertilizer
- Lower energy and chemical inputs
- Offer sanitation possibilities where sewer systems aren’t viable
- Reframe human waste as a resource, not just a problem
Types of Alternative Toilets
The rise of alternative toilets has produced a diversity of options, from do-it-yourself setups to sophisticated commercial systems. The key categories include:
1. Composting Toilets
Composting toilets break down solid and liquid waste using aerobic (oxygen-rich) processes, turning it into safe, humus-like compost over time. They do not rely on water to operate. With the right setup, odors are minimal—fans and vents direct gases outside. These systems fall into a few types:
- Self-contained: Everything occurs in a single unit, ideal for cottages or remote cabins.
- Centralized: Waste drops into a larger basement or external chamber for composting, handling greater traffic.
- Batch systems: Waste is collected in removable bins or chambers for easy cycling.
Benefits: Composting toilets create nutrient-rich soil, save water, and often require little maintenance. They are popular in off-grid homes, eco-villages, and situations lacking standard plumbing.
Challenges: They require periodic removal of finished compost, careful moisture balance, and education of users. Cold climates and misuse (e.g., adding chemicals or improper materials) can disrupt composting.
2. Urine-Diverting Toilets
These toilets separate urine from solid waste at the source. Urine, which is generally sterile and rich in nutrients, can be directed to a soakaway pit or further processed for fertilization, while solids are composted separately. Diverting urine reduces odors and allows both waste streams to be managed optimally.
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- Reduces liquid volume in solids (and thus odor and pathogen risk)
- Simplifies composting and creates the possibility for direct urine reuse in agriculture
Common Applications: Popular among DIYers and enthusiasts, urine-diverting toilets are simple to construct and well-suited for sheds, tiny houses, and rural cottages.
3. Tree Bogs
The “tree bog” is an innovative composting toilet system in which a raised platform toilet sits amid fast-growing, water-loving vegetation—often willows—that absorb the nutrients from decomposing waste. This method is extremely low-maintenance: the soil and tree roots do most of the work, and the only regular task is occasional harvesting or coppicing of the vegetation.
- Waterless and low-maintenance; requires little intervention once established
- Plants convert waste into biomass, making it a closed-loop system
- Ideal for rural/agricultural settings with available land
Tree bogs are especially valued by permaculture practitioners and those on large rural plots.
4. Incinerating Toilets
In contrast to composting, incinerating toilets burn waste with electric heat or gas. They reduce all matter to sterile ash, need little space, and avoid concerns around pathogen handling. However, they require significant energy input.
- Advantages: No handling of compost, nearly odorless, suitable for locations where composting is impractical
- Disadvantages: High energy use, initial cost, periodic ash disposal
5. Waterless Toilets and Outhouses
Classic outhouses and newer dry toilets collect waste in a pit, barrel, or vault below the seat. While traditional outhouses lack odor control, modern waterless toilets integrate vents, fans, and composting principles for improved user experience.
How Composting Toilets Work: The Science of Humanure
At the heart of composting toilets lies the process of aerobic decomposition. Here’s how it works:
- Waste is mixed with carbon-rich materials (such as sawdust, peat moss, leaf litter, or coconut coir) to balance nutrients and absorb excess moisture.
- Bacteria and fungi break down waste into safe compost, provided enough oxygen, warmth, and time.
- Properly managed bins do not smell. Odors are minimized by covering fresh material with a carbon layer and ensuring good ventilation.
The key is to maintain the correct balance of moisture, air, and “greens”(nitrogen) to “browns”(carbon). Well-maintained systems produce compost that is earthy, crumbly, and free from pathogens after appropriate curing time.
Advantages of Alternative Toilets
- Water Conservation: Most alternative toilets use zero or minimal water, making them ideal for off-grid or drought-prone locations.
- Soil Enrichment: Composting systems produce humus that can enhance soil fertility (subject to local regulations).
- Reduction of Sewage Pollution: Decentralized toilets mean less human waste ends up contaminating water supplies.
- Energy Savings: Fewer resources are needed for sewage pumping and treatment.
- Independence: Great for sites far from municipal sewer infrastructure, from tiny homes to remote wildlife areas.
Limitations and Considerations
Alternative toilets are not without challenges. Prospective users should consider:
- Initial Learning Curve: Users must learn correct operation, such as covering waste and separating liquids in some systems.
- Maintenance: Finished compost or ash must be removed and handled safely.
- Regulations: Local laws may restrict or prohibit certain systems, especially where connections to sewerage are mandated.
- Space and Temperature: Cold climates, limited outdoor space, or high-traffic locations may present hurdles.
Stories from the Field: Real-World Uses of Alternative Toilets
Off-Grid Homes and Cottages
Many off-grid families, such as those in cold northern climates without reliable water supplies, have adopted composting toilets with great success. A simple DIY system with a urine diverter has proven effective even in subzero temperatures. Careful management (adequate cover material, proper bin design, and regular emptying) ensures that the experience is clean and odor-free.
Community Gardens and Urban Installations
Community gardens, like the Hollenback Community Garden in Brooklyn, have replaced chemical port-a-johns with waterless composting toilets. These solutions reduce ongoing service costs, eliminate chemical waste, and boost garden usability for visitors. Some installations are even solar-powered, running fans or aeration bins for optimal performance.
Natural Building and Permaculture Centers
Tree bogs and similar ecological toilets have become favorites at permaculture sites and ecological farms. These low-intervention options blend seamlessly into the landscape and require little to no ongoing management once established, aside from managing the vegetation.
Comparison Table: Toilet Types at a Glance
| Type | Water Use | Main Maintenance | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composting Toilet | None or minimal | Empty compost bin regularly | Water savings, soil enrichment | Requires user management |
| Urine-Diverting | None | Empty bins, manage soakaway | Odor control, easier composting | Requires proper use and setup |
| Tree Bog | None | Coppice trees/shrubs | Very low maintenance | Requires land and suitable plants |
| Incinerating Toilet | None | Empty ash, energy supply | Low handling of waste | High energy use, cost |
| Outhouse/Dry Toilet | None | Occasional pump-out/relocation | Simple, low-tech | Potential for odor, groundwater contamination if unmanaged |
Building Your Own: DIY Considerations
Constructing a simple composting or urine-diverting toilet can be straightforward. Most homemade systems use a bucket with a cover material (like sawdust) and a ventilated, private enclosure. Key principles to ensure success:
- Use plenty of carbon-rich cover (not just for odor control, but to aid composting)
- Provide adequate ventilation with a vent pipe or small fan
- Maintain separation of liquids and solids where possible
- Build access for easy removal of finished compost or full bins
Advanced DIYers can create larger bins or chambers, particularly for multi-user or permanent setups. Safety is paramount: compost must be cured fully before use, and protective gear is recommended for handling material.
Environmental Impact and Community Benefits
Switching to alternative toilets offers broad ecological benefits:
- Helps conserve drinking water, which is essential as fresh sources face growing stress
- Reduces nutrient pollution in rivers, lakes, and oceans
- Closes the nutrient cycle by returning valuable elements to soil and vegetation
- Empowers communities without sewer infrastructure to achieve safe, hygienic sanitation
Are Alternative Toilets Legal Everywhere?
Legal acceptance of composting and alternative toilets varies dramatically by location. Regulations may specify:
- Permitted composting toilet models or designs
- Composting bin sizing, separation distance from wells or property boundaries
- End-use restrictions for composted humanure (e.g., not for food crops)
Check local codes before installing an alternative toilet. In some areas, pilot projects or waivers may be possible for homes off-grid or outside sewer districts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do composting toilets smell?
A: Properly managed composting toilets should not smell. Odors are prevented by regular coverage with carbon material and good ventilation.
Q: Is the compost safe to use?
A: Finished compost from well-managed toilets is generally safe for use on ornamental plants or trees after sufficient curing. Check local guidelines before applying to food crops.
Q: Can I install a composting toilet in my city home?
A: Some urban homes and community gardens use alternative toilets, but legal restrictions may apply. Always verify building and health codes before proceeding.
Q: What if the composting process stops or I notice problems?
A: Most issues result from too much moisture, too little carbon, or insufficient air. Add dry cover material, improve ventilation, and avoid adding chemicals or non-biodegradables.
Q: How often does a composting toilet need to be emptied?
A: This depends on the size, number of users, and toilet type. Home systems may require emptying every few weeks to several months. Tree bogs and large centralized units usually have minimum maintenance.
Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Toilets
Alternative toilets challenge us to rethink our relationship with human waste. By embracing composting, urine diversion, tree bogs, and waterless options, individuals and communities can protect water, regenerate soil, and move toward truly sustainable sanitation. Whether for an off-grid cabin, bustling community garden, or eco-conscious home, the possibilities are growing—flushing waste away may soon be an old-fashioned luxury, not a necessity.
References
- https://edmortimer.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/how-to-build-a-tree-bog-composting-toilet/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utteZ3crv38
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/you-dont-have-to-be-a-tree-hugger-to-embrace-a-composting-toilet-126586438.html
- https://www.brooklynpaper.com/tree-huggers-are-green-with-envy-over-this-toilet/
- https://www.buildinggreen.com/news-article/urine-collection-beats-composting-toilets-nutrient-recycling
- https://www.hcn.org/blogs/range/lighten-up-take-a-load-off/
- https://permies.com/t/50887/Tree-Bog-Toilet-Top-reasons
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