Composting toilets: plenty of advances but some problems remain

That makes it sound as though we all should be racing to buy one. But most sites, such as LetsgoGreen.com, also put in a caveat, like this: “The correct balance between oxygen, moisture, heat and organic material is needed to ensure a rich environment for the aerobic bacteria that transform the waste into fertilizing soil. This ensures odor-free operation and complete decomposition of waste.”

Alexandra Marks

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Alexandra writes about the "green" and budget-friendly renovation of a 100-year-old farmhouse in south-central Connecticut.

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That clearly implies that it takes some work and vigilance to ensure that odor’s not a problem. A testimonial on the same site made that very clear: “I put cedar closet boards behind the unit to help control possible odors/insect problems ...”

So odor can be a problem, despite what many manufacturers and advocates contend. I found the most honest analysis at the Natural Building Colloquium Southwest site:

Part of that maintenance requires ensuring there’s no liquid build-up in the compost system, according to the site Gardenguides:

There’s also the issue of dealing with the finished compost once it’s ready to spread on your bushes and shrubs (it’s not recommended for edible plants.) Some sites note that it’s important to wear gloves and ensure that the compost is moist when it’s removed, so you don’t inhale its dust.

That’s just one of the issues Garden Guides found:

So, despite all of compost toilets’ environmental advantages – from their use of little or no water, to the fact you don’t need a septic tank, a sewer, or treatment plants, to the production of good compost – I’m not ready to take the plunge, as it were.

Nope, at Sheep Dog Hollow we’re going with traditional low-flow water toilets. There are High Efficiency Toilets (HET) options, which use 20 percent less than the legally mandated low-flowers. I’m currently checking those out.

In the meantime, I found the best buying guide for low flowers at the Green Building Council’s “5 Tips for Choosing a Low Flow Toilet.” It’s a “must read” if you’re thinking about cutting down on your water usage but like me, still aren’t quite green enough to go for a composter.

Next: Reconsidering solar.

Editor’s note: Alexandra Marks blogs twice a week – usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays – about her green and budget-friendly restoration of a 1902 farmhouse in Connecticut. Click here to find all her blog posts and articles.

Alex is currently working on nonfiction book about the green renovation of Sheep Dog Hollow. She is also writing a fictional account. At this point, she’s not sure whichwill have the happy ending. Before this project, she worked for The Christian Science Monitor for most of the past 20 years, covering everything from healthcare to politicians.

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