If you’re considering a composting toilet, the first thing you want to know is whether or not you can poop in it. The good news is, yes, you can! Composting toilets are designed to handle human waste and break it down into usable compost.
However, there are some things to keep in mind before making the switch. Read on for more information about how composting toilets work and whether they might be suitable for your home.
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Can You Poop in A Composting Toilet?
Yes, you can poop in a composting toilet. Human waste is one of the best things to compost! Human waste contains lots of nitrogen and other nutrients that are great for plants.
Composting toilets work by turning human waste into compost. The waste is placed in a chamber where it decomposes over time. Some toilets have fans or other mechanisms to speed up the process and control excess moisture. Eventually, the decomposing waste becomes rich, dark compost that can be used to fertilize gardens or landscapes.
There are many different types of composting toilets, so it’s important to do your research before choosing one. Some factors to consider include climate, desired aesthetics, maintenance requirements, and cost.
What Are the Main Types of Composting Toilets?
There are two main types of composting toilets: self-contained systems and split/central systems.
Self-contained systems include a series of small tanks or chambers that collects human waste. One fills up then you rotate to an empty chamber while the full chamber decomposes.
After the waste has decomposed, the remaining material can be used as fertilizer for plants. One downside to this type of system is that they take up a lot of space in the bathroom since both the toilet bowl and the large composting chambers are together in one unit.
Split/central systems consist of two parts: a small low-flow toilet which is usually above the floor and a large composting tank which is usually below the bathroom floor. The toilet is connected to the composting tank via a small pipe. When you use the toilet, the waste goes into the composting tank where it decomposes over time.
Split/central systems are often more expensive than self-contained systems; however, they feel more like normal toilets as the toilet part doesn’t take up a ton of room as the self-contained units do.
Also, split systems are harder to install as you have to cut through the floor and you’ll need a basement or lower level below the bathroom for the composting chamber.
How Does a Self-Contained Composting Toilet Break Down Poop?
Self-contained composting toilets are made up of several chambers. You start with an empty chamber and when it’s full you rotate that to the back and an empty chamber comes to the front.
The full chamber in the back gets no more new material and the poop, toilet paper, and urine break down into clean compost. Once that happens you empty the chamber onto your lawn, garden, or fruit trees.
Self-contained composting toilets use a batch composting process which we’ll explain down below.
How Does a Split-System Composting Toilet Break Down Poop?
A split system breaks down poop the same way a self-contained composting toilet does. Fresh material is moved to a composting chamber where it breaks down into clean and safe compost.
The only difference is that the composting chamber of a self-contained system is much larger and is usually below the floor of the bathroom.
Split system composting toilets use a continuous composting process which we’ll explain down below.
What if A Sick Person Uses the Composting Toilet, Does It Kill Pathogens?
Yes, composting toilets kill pathogens and germs through a combination of biodegradation and desiccation (composting and drying out) of fresh poop.
It’s very important though to follow the directions of your unit. If you don’t let it dry out properly or you add too much fresh material at once, then the pathogens will have a chance to multiply.
If you’re worried about someone who is sick using your composting toilet, you can always have them use a regular flush toilet or simply dump the final compost into an outdoor compost bin and let it sit for an entire year before using it. That extra time outside will kill any remaining pathogens.
What About Worms and Worm Eggs in Poop. Does a Composting Toilet Kill Those?
No, worm eggs are hardy and commercial composting toilets don’t reach a high enough temperature to kill them.
However, worms and parasites are rare in people living in developed countries. They are still common in pets though.
For this reason, it’s important to keep pet waste out of your composting toilet and use a different method to compost it outside.
If for some reason you or a guest might have worms it’s better not to use the composting toilet or take that finished batch from the toilet outside and compost it again in a larger outdoor pile for at least a year.
Batch Composting Toilets vs Continuous Composting Toilets
There are two methods of composting used by composting toilets: batch and continuous.
Batch toilets have several chambers where you add fresh material to one chamber and let it compost. When that chamber is full, you rotate it to the back and add fresh material to the empty chamber in the front.
The batch process can take several months for one chamber to finish composting. Hence most commercial units tell you to empty it after 2 months.
A continuous composting toilet only has one chamber where fresh material is constantly added. The finished compost is removed from the bottom of the chamber while fresh material is added to the top.
How Does a Composting Toilet Separate Fresh Poop from Composted Poop in A Batch Model Like the Sunmar?
Sun-mar composting toilets come in both styles, either batch-based or continuous.
Batch composting models (also called self-contained) include Excel NE, Excel, Compact, and Spacesaver.
Sun-mar batch models have several internal chambers. You fill one up then rotate it to the back to finish composting.
Continuous composting models (also called central composting toilets) include the Centrex models (version 1000 through 3000). They use a separate ultra-low flush (1 pint) water-based toilet or a waterless toilet.
Their waterless toilets work with the Centrex 2000 or Centrex 3000 and require an additional waterless toilet kit.
Sun-mar’s Centrex composters use a continuous process where new material comes in the top and finishes compost falls through their patented Biodrum.
What Happens if You Have Diarrhea in A Composting Toilet?
If you have diarrhea just use the toilet as normal. The only issue here is if you’re sick. If that’s the case it’s important to take extra precautions with that batch of finished compost.
Ideally, you should remove it from the composting toilet and let it sit in an outdoor compost pile for an entire year.
This will give any remaining pathogens time to die off from the heat of the sun and fresh air.
Can You Put Food in A Composting Toilet?
No, you should not put food in a composting toilet. These toilets are not designed to take on this extra material. It will slow down the composting process and fill up the composting chambers too quickly rendering your toilet unusable for a time.
Conclusion
While you can poop in a composting toilet, it’s important to understand how they work.
Most commercial units have a batch process where you add fresh material to one chamber and let it compost. When that chamber is full, you rotate it to the back and add fresh material to the empty chamber in the front.
Sick people can also poop in a composting toilet, but it’s important to take extra precautions with that batch of finished compost.
Ideally, you should remove it from the composting toilet and let it sit in an outdoor compost pile for an entire year.
This will give any remaining pathogens time to die off before you use it in your yard or garden.
