Sometimes people are concerned that they might find a waterless compost toilet ‘disgusting’.  Far from it!   There is no odor and the waste is slowly composted in an enclosed chamber over the course of two to three years to become indistinguishable from any other compost.

The first question is usually, “How does it work”?  There is a closed waste collection chamber with a fan that takes all unpleasant odors out and away from the bathroom.  After using the toilet, add 1/2 cup wood chips after pooping – not needed after peeing,  close the cover – and you are done – well wash your hands the usual 20 seconds at the sink, but that is the same with any system.

In the tower basement there is a ratchet we turn once a week or so to help aerate the material as it turns into compost.  If that bin ever becomes full (it’s been two years now and it’s still in good condition) we will open a door that moves that material to a lower bin where it will continue to compost for another year or so until it is ready to be used for landscaping (or for the gardens, since any pathogens have long since been inactivated).

Sadly, we found the Full Circle urine-diverting compost toilet we had initially installed in the summer house, was a bit more trouble for us and our guests.  The urine-collection tube became clogged with wood shavings intended for the main solid waste collection bin, and unless the urine collection bucket in the basement was changed very regularly, it gave off an unpleasant odor.  I’d still install it in my home, but for a rental property, it was just too much trouble.  We installed a flush toilet there in May 2016.