With a growing fascination in green living and being environmentally responsible, compost toilets are becoming more mainstream. The benefits of a composting toilet are both financial and environmental while the newest models make the process cleaner and easier. Does this Spark an idea?
Definition
A compost toilet is a system for disposing of human waste. It uses little to no water and is connected to a tank that converts the waste into compost. The composting toilet has a seat, a tank where the waste is composted, a fan, a heater to keep temperature optimal and microorganisms to break down the waste.
Function
The compost is then used to fertilize plants. No human waste is allowed to contaminate bodies of water.
Fertilizer Uses
While some people may be turned off by the idea of using human waste as a fertilizer, the composting process makes it safe to use. Many people prefer to only use the fertilizer on non-food plants as an extra safety precaution, but as long as any produce is washed before eating then it is perfectly safe to use on food plants as well. The majority of people who own a composting toilet will use the compost as fertilizer. Selling it to gardeners is another option.
Costs
The initial cost of a compost toilet is much higher than that of a regular toilet. However, in comparison to the cost of a traditional septic system, the compost toilet is reasonably priced---$1,000 to $5,000 for a complete system.
Where?
Compost toilets are used in some portable toilets, RVs, homes off the power and water grids and by people who wish to be environmentally responsible.
Benefits
The lower usage of water, lowering of sewage runoff and improved health of marine life due to that lack of runoff are all benefits to the environment. The benefits of a composting toilet to the consumer are cheaper water bills and the production of compost to use as fertilizer.
Tags: composting toilet, compost toilet, human waste, benefits composting, benefits composting toilet, compost fertilizer, environmentally responsible