Do you flush your toilet five times a day? Six? Seven? The answer to this may be higher than you’d like to admit, but we should never shy away from the topic of water wastage. Excessive water wastage has put immense pressure on our planet’s well-being, with toilet flushing being just one contribution.
There aren’t too many quick and simple solutions to this problem, but luckily, there’s a good old-fashioned method, otherwise known as a compostable toilet.
What Are Compost Toilets?
Before we go any further, perhaps it is worth establishing what compost toilets actually are. A compost toilet is a toilet that offers users an eco-friendlier way to do their business by disposing of waste with minimal water usage. The toilet combines human waste with materials such as peat moss or sawdust, and it vents the airflow outward to remove any unpleasant odors via an anaerobic procedure.
Some environmentalists are turning to compost toilets because they demand less water than standard toilets and can even improve plant growth in areas where the soil is able to improve. These toilets are also great for remote areas, making them even easier to use.
How Do Compost Toilets Operate?
Compost toilets must thrive in a suitable environment for the waste to be broken down by aerobic bacteria. Thus, compost toilets work best under the correct carbon-nitrogen balance, moisture, and temperature.
For example, getting rid of your urine will assist in the removal of excess nitrogen in your compost. Adding peat and other carbon-rich substances to it will help secure the correct nitrogen-carbon balance.
Having too much moisture can kill oxygen-breathing bacteria. This means you must follow a few tricks to get the correct moisture level – moist but not wet. For example, you could utilize a separate urine container which should be disposed of manually when it is full to the top. Alternatively, you could implement a drain pit.
As for temperature, you should keep your compost toilet at 60 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit to help the bacteria do their magic. Use a thermostat to keep an eye on the temperature.
If the toilet fails to meet these circumstances, it may not fully dispose of your human waste, causing emptying the compost to be a little nastier than you expected!
Different Compost Toilet Systems
Within the world of compost toilets, you can discover a few different composting systems that can serve various requirements. They all consist of several of the same attributes, such as a compost container, access door, and air and exhaust system. Furthermore, every model needs electricity to function. Regardless of this, let’s take a look at how the systems differ.
Single composters – these types of compost toilets have just one chamber, and all waste and compost enter through the top and are disposed of through the bottom.
Double composters – these types of compost toilets have at least two chambers, although they could potentially contain more. In this process, the composter is filled, and ages before you add more human waste.
True composters – these types of compost toilets offer the best decomposition of waste and the most efficient ventilation system because of their special features, such as fans, heaters, and mixers, amongst other things.
Dry composters – these types of compost toilets require a higher amount of maintenance from users and generally need additional heating applications to speed up the waste decomposition.
Key Takeaways
First, it is evident that there are many unique ways to be environmentally friendlier to our planet. Something as random as swapping out a traditional toilet system for a composting one can hugely impact water conservation.
Moreover, a compost toilet can be an incredibly cost-effective and safe alternative to a standard bathroom. By choosing to swap, not only can you save our environment, but you can also save some valuable cash.
Thirdly, it’s obvious that every individual has the capability to change our world for the better. Think: if everyone implemented this change in their home, imagine to what extent we could protect our planet! By implementing fundamental changes in your household, you can start saving water today.
Do you flush your toilet five times a day? Six? Seven? The answer to this may be higher than you’d like to admit, but we should never shy away from the topic of water wastage. Excessive water wastage has put immense pressure on our planet’s well-being, with toilet flushing being just one contribution.
There aren’t too many quick and simple solutions to this problem, but luckily, there’s a good old-fashioned method, otherwise known as a compostable toilet. Let’s take a peek at this in more detail below and start saving our environment today!
Do you flush your toilet five times a day? Six? Seven? The answer to this may be higher than you’d like to admit, but we should never shy away from the topic of water wastage. Excessive water wastage has put immense pressure on our planet’s well-being, with toilet flushing being just one contribution.
There aren’t too many quick and simple solutions to this problem, but luckily, there’s a good old-fashioned method, otherwise known as a compostable toilet.
What Are Compost Toilets?
Before we go any further, perhaps it is worth establishing what compost toilets actually are. A compost toilet is a toilet that offers users an eco-friendlier way to do their business by disposing of waste with minimal water usage. The toilet combines human waste with materials such as peat moss or sawdust, and it vents the airflow outward to remove any unpleasant odors via an anaerobic procedure.
Some environmentalists are turning to compost toilets because they demand less water than standard toilets and can even improve plant growth in areas where the soil is able to improve. These toilets are also great for remote areas, making them even easier to use.
How Do Compost Toilets Operate?
Compost toilets must thrive in a suitable environment for the waste to be broken down by aerobic bacteria. Thus, compost toilets work best under the correct carbon-nitrogen balance, moisture, and temperature.
For example, getting rid of your urine will assist in the removal of excess nitrogen in your compost. Adding peat and other carbon-rich substances to it will help secure the correct nitrogen-carbon balance.
Having too much moisture can kill oxygen-breathing bacteria. This means you must follow a few tricks to get the correct moisture level – moist but not wet. For example, you could utilize a separate urine container which should be disposed of manually when it is full to the top. Alternatively, you could implement a drain pit.
As for temperature, you should keep your compost toilet at 60 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit to help the bacteria do their magic. Use a thermostat to keep an eye on the temperature.
If the toilet fails to meet these circumstances, it may not fully dispose of your human waste, causing emptying the compost to be a little nastier than you expected!
Different Compost Toilet Systems
Within the world of compost toilets, you can discover a few different composting systems that can serve various requirements. They all consist of several of the same attributes, such as a compost container, access door, and air and exhaust system. Furthermore, every model needs electricity to function. Regardless of this, let’s take a look at how the systems differ.
Single composters – these types of compost toilets have just one chamber, and all waste and compost enter through the top and are disposed of through the bottom.
Double composters – these types of compost toilets have at least two chambers, although they could potentially contain more. In this process, the composter is filled, and ages before you add more human waste.
True composters – these types of compost toilets offer the best decomposition of waste and the most efficient ventilation system because of their special features, such as fans, heaters, and mixers, amongst other things.
Dry composters – these types of compost toilets require a higher amount of maintenance from users and generally need additional heating applications to speed up the waste decomposition.
In Conclusion
It is evident that there are many unique ways to be environmentally friendlier to our planet. Something as random as swapping out a traditional toilet system for a composting one can hugely impact water conservation. A compost toilet can be an incredibly cost-effective and safe alternative to a standard bathroom. By choosing to swap, not only can you save our environment, but you can also save some valuable cash.
