Composting ToiletsWhat are they? Composting toilets are “dry” toilets that use the bacteria provided with every human deposit to break down human waste into usable compost. Composting toilets fall into two categories; manufactured systems that use electricity or other forms of energy to heat, turn, and aerate compost piles, and bucket systems that use human energy to transport humanure from bathroom to outdoor composting pile.
Manufactured Systems Usually consisting of a receptacle placed over a pile, manufactured composting toilets offer a sometimes finicky alternative to standard sewage systems. Manufactured systems accept only human waste, and usually need some kind of electrical input to run a blower fan or heater.
Ranging from high quality systems with little to no noticeable smell to cesspits of engineering that create more of a problem than an overturned septic tank, manufactured systems must be carefully installed and maintained to operate at proper performance levels.
Bucket Systems Composting toilet bucket systems use a 5 gallon bucket as the initial “deposit” chamber and as the transportation system to collect all compost and bring it to a central location. Most appropriate where water is too precious to waste with flushing, and where local customs accept low-tech high-value solutions, composting toilets are a simple answer to the complex sewage system found in developed countries.
No turning, heating, or aerating is required with bucket systems, and a compost pile made with the bucket system will accept anything organic, from bones to meat to dairy to vegetables to fats and oils. Composting toilet bucket systems are especially applicable in disaster areas and where the risk of fecal coliform contamination is high and there is little economic ability to invest in manufactured systems. Bucket systems do not smell when used properly and aside from a bucket, have no breakable components.
What are the benefits for Exup buildings? Using composting toilet systems, especially the low-tech bucket based systems, allows Exup buildings to dramatically decrease their water usage and impact on the environment. By eliminating the need for both septic and water truck service related to human waste disposal, the use of composting toilets in high-threat, hostile, and post-disaster environments reduces operating costs, increases security, and reduces the risk of communicable disease. With little training and time needed to safely work with composting toilets, they can be an excellent solution in Exup-serviced areas.
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