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Composting Toilets United States Office of Water EPA 832-F-99-066 Environmental Protection Washington, D.C. September 1999 Agency Water Efficiency Technology Fact Sheet Composting Toilets DESCRIPTION Although there are many different composting toilet designs that continue to evolve, the basic concept of Originally commercialized in Sweden, composting composting remains the same. toilets have been an established technology for more than 30 years, and perhaps longer in site-built forms. The primary objective of composting toilet systems As they require little to no water, composting toilet is to contain, immobilize, or destroy pathogens, systems can provide a solution to sanitation and thereby reducing the risk of human infection to environmental problems in unsewered, rural, and acceptable levels without contaminating the suburban areas and in both developed and environment or negatively affecting the life of its underdeveloped countries. inhabitants. This should be accomplished in a manner that is consistent with good sanitation A composting (or biological) toilet system contains (minimizing the availability of excrement to disease and processes excrement, toilet paper, carbon vectors, such as flies, and minimizing human contact additive, and sometimes, food waste. Unlike a septic with unprocessed excrement), thus producing an system, a composting toilet system relies on inoffensive and reasonably dry end-product that can unsaturated conditions where aerobic bacteria break be handled with minimum risk. down waste. This process is similar to a yard waste composter. If sized and maintained properly, a A composting toilet is a well-ventilated container composting toilet breaks down waste 10 to 30% of that provides the optimum environment for its original volume. The resulting soil-like material unsaturated, but moist, human excrement for called “humus,” legally must be either buried or biological and physical decomposition under removed by a licensed septage hauler in accordance sanitary, controlled aerobic conditions. Some are with state and local regulations. large units that require a basement for installation. Others are small self-contained appliances that sit on Public health professionals are beginning to the floor in the bathroom. In the composting recognize the need for environmentally sound process, organic matter is transformed by naturally human waste treatment and recycling methods. The occurring bacteria and fungi that break down the composting toilet is a nonwater-carriage system that excrement into an oxidized, humus-like end- is well-suited for (but is not limited to) remote areas product. These organisms thrive by aeration, where water is scarce, or areas with low without the need for water or chemicals. Various percolation, high water tables, shallow soil, or rough process controls manage environmental terrain. Because composting toilets eliminate the factors—air, heat, moisture—to optimize the need for flush toilets, this significantly reduces water process. use and allows for the recycling of valuable plant nutrients. The main process variations are continuous or batch composting. Continuous composters (including such brands as CTS, Clivus Multrum, Phoenix, Biolet, SunMar, etc.) are single chambers where excrement is added to the top, and the end-product is removed Rejuvenation of an Existing Disposal System from the bottom. Batch composters (including Carousel, Vera, and nearly all of the site-built A disposal system in a residential neighborhood had composters worldwide) are actually two or more a history of surface breakouts due to overloading. composters that are filled and then allowed to cure The load was reduced when a waterless toilet was without the continuous addition of new potentially installed along with water conservation devices on pathogen contaminated excrement. Alternating plumbing fixtures. concrete double-bins are the most common batch system, although several systems use polyethylene Remodeling 55-gallon drums that contain the process. A waterless toilet was installed in a basement near APPLICABILITY a family room because it was more practical than installing plumbing and a pump to lift the waste to Composting toilet systems can be used almost a septic tank. anywhere a flush toilet can be used. They are typically used for seasonal homes, homes in remote Waterless, Solar Toilets in Colorado Park areas that cannot use flush toilets, or recreation areas, etc. Application advantages for composting The Colorado Health Board was faced with the task toilet systems are listed below: of providing adequate toilets to the outlying portions of a 18,000-acre recreation area. The C It is more cost-effective to treat waste on- options considered were running a sewer and water site than it is to build and maintain a central line or installing chemical toilets and vault latrines. sewer system to which waste will need to be However, these options added to the problem with transported. continual maintenance requirements, high chemical costs, expensive excavations and pump-outs, and C Water is not wasted as a transport medium the potential to pollute groundwater. Faced with to flush toilets. this dilemma, the Colorado Health Board installed composting toilets to decompose wastes without C Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) are water, chemicals, pollution, or odor. kept in tight biological cycles without causing problems to receiving waters. The compost produced from the decomposed waste was similar to topsoil and reduced considerably in There have been many reports of successful use of volume. Directly below the toilet chute was a large waterless (composting, incinerator, chemical, and tank in which organic material such as lawn privy) toilets. Below are some examples of clippings, paper, and leaves was placed. The waste successful stories. decomposed slowly along the tank floor by the natural bacteria present in the waste material. A fan Replacement of Existing Disposal Systems powered by a small photovoltaic cell on the roof of each brick and concrete restroom was installed to A family of four had a failing wastewater disposal draw out all vapors produced in the tank. Both the system in their urban home. They lived on a small men’s and the women’s stalls were accommodated lot with insufficient land area to construct a disposal by a tank unit each to handle up to 40,000 uses per system for their water use. A waterless toilet was year, thus providing much-needed toilet facilities in installed in conjunction with a 35% smaller disposal outlying areas. system to handle the remaining graywater. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES Some advantages and disadvantages of composting toilet systems are listed below: Advantages C Composting toilet systems must be used in conjunction with a graywater system in most C Composting toilet systems do not require circumstances. water for flushing, and thus, reduce domestic water consumption. C Smaller units may have limited capacity for accepting peak loads. C These systems reduce the quantity and strength of wastewater to be disposed of C Improper maintenance makes cleaning onsite. difficult and may lead to health hazards and odor problems. C They are especially suited for new construction at remote sites where C Using an inadequately treated end-product conventional onsite systems are not feasible. as a soil amendment may have possible health consequences. C Composting toilet systems have low power consumption. C There may be aesthetic issues because the excrement in some systems may be in sight. C Self-contained systems eliminate the need for transportation of wastes for C Too much liquid residual (leachate) in the treatment/disposal. composter can disrupt the process if it is not drained and properly managed. C Composting human waste and burying it around tree roots and nonedible plants keeps C Most composting toilet systems require a organic wastes productively cycling in the power source. environment. C Improperly installed or maintained systems C Composting toilet systems can accept can produce odors and unprocessed kitchen wastes, thus reducing household material. garbage. DESIGN CRITERIA C In many states, installing a composting toilet system allows the property owner to install The main components of a composting toilet (see a reduced-size leachfield, minimizing costs Figure 1) are: and disruption of landscapes. C A composting reactor connected to a dry or C Composting toilet systems divert nutrient micro-flush toilet(s). and pathogen containing effluent from soil, surface water, and groundwater. C A screened air inlet and an exhaust system (often fan-forced) to remove odors and heat, Disadvantages carbon dioxide, water vapor, and the by- products of aerobic decomposition. C Maintenance of composting toilet systems requires more responsibility and C A mechanism to provide the necessary commitment by users and owners than ventilation to support the aerobic organisms conventional wastewater systems. in the composter. C Removing the finished end-product is an C A means of draining and managing excess unpleasant job if the composting toilet liquid and leachate (optional). system is not properly installed or maintained. C Process controls to optimize and facilitate presence of these microorganisms is directly management of the processes. related to the environmental conditions in the compost material. C An access door for removal of the end- product. C Temperature: As the microorganisms grow, heat is generated by the energy released The composting unit must be constructed to during aerobic
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