Self Contained Composting Toilet

Self Contained Composting Toilet / What's Compost

In today’s world water crisis and environmental pollution are the biggest problems threatening the existence of living beings on this wonderful planet. A composting toilet can definitely help in solving these issues to some extent. Waterless toilets are a rather odd concept to most people. However, you cannot get any more environmentally friendly or cost effective than a waterless composting toilet.

Composting has numerous advantages. It is the main requirement for healthy planting. It can take place almost anytime even without exerting effort.

Composting, often described as nature’s way of recycling, is the biological process of breaking up of organic waste such as kitchen waste, manure, leaves, grass trimmings, newspaper, worms, and coffee grounds, etc., into an extremely useful humus-like substance by various micro-organisms including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in the presence of oxygen.

Actinomycetes are similar to fungus in the way they grow and spread, but its distinguishing elements are that the types of materials they are efficient at decomposing. The active nature in this microscopic bacteria and the sheer number present (about 10 million per 1 gram of soil), make them highly effective at breaking down materials like tree bark and other hard organic material.

Self Contained Composting Toilet / Convenient and Easy to Use

The composting toilet is the most economical, convenient way to process your toilet wastes when you can't connect to a sewer or septic system, or in areas of water shortage. Self-contained composting toilets have the composting chamber under the toilet seat, so it's all one unit located in your bathroom

Self-contained units are installed directly in the bathroom. They are available in both electric and non-electric versions. Electric units plug into a regular 3-prong outlet to power a fan and a thermostatically-controlled heating element in the base of the unit. Depending on the size of the unit, power usage varies between 80-150 watts.

Composting capacity varies with the size of the Bio-drum. Electric units normally have more capacity than non-electric units because they have extra warmth and air movement to enhance bacterial activity.

For a self-contained composting toilet to work properly, ventilation is needed that can both keep the smell out of your bathroom while providing enough oxygen for the compost to break down. This is done with fans and a heater powered by electricity (some models do not require electricity).

Self Contained Composting Toilet / Advantages

Some advantages of self-contained units are mentioned below.

No plumbing required: - Being waterless, no plumbing or water connection is necessary. This means the units are quick and easy to install since the only major task is to assemble the vent stack which comes with the unit.
Economical: - There is no need to purchase a separate toilet, so they are more economical than central units.
Better suited to winter operation: - Depending on your situation, it may be easier to keep the bathroom warm in winter than to warm the space that houses a central composting unit.
Easy to clean: - All self-contained units have a bowl liner beneath the seat, which can be removed for cleaning whenever necessary.

Attractive high-gloss finish: - The high quality, high-gloss fiberglass finish is attractive and clean-looking and carries a 25 year guarantee.

Self Contained Composting Toilet / Maintenance is Required

These new age toilets are entirely safe and sanitary. They are even more sanitary for our environment than our current sewer system.

Most of the disadvantages associated with composting toilets are related to improper maintenance. In many cultures, we aren't used to dealing with our feces after they leave our body, so deciding what level of involvement you want with your waste may tilt the scales in terms of whether this is a green investment you're willing to make.

If the composting system isn't adequately managed by someone, this toilet can become environmentally unfriendly very fast.

Sources

http://www.envirolet.com/enwatsel.html
http://www.sun-mar.com/prod_self.html
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/composting-toilet.htm

For more information on composting follow these links:

Definition of Composting

How Does Composting Work

Anaerobic Composting

Composting Techniques

Commercial Composting

Composting Newspaper