Why Not Use A Composting Toilet?
What Is A Composting Toilet?
A composting toilet, in a nut shell, is a toilet that uses no water to flush. Instead it produces compost. A wonderful book to read is The Humanure Handbook. Find it at the link below.
http://permaculturenews.org/2008/09/18/humanure-handbook-free-download/)
Let's face it. We send alot down the toilet. If you live in a city or town you are pooing and peeing into your water supply. Now before you get all crazy on me, I want to say: I know you are NOT going to the bathroom in your local water tower. But after you flush, the stuff goes through the pipes to a sanitation station, where it is cleaned up, chemical infused, and yes... reused.
And all I have to say about that is: YUCKO!
When we think about water conservation, why not think about conserving water when we take care of our personal and private restroom functions?
Our Water Is Precious
Human beings are about 75% water. We can only go about three days without water before we die of thirst. How arrogant we are to pee and poo directly into clean, fresh water! It's ridiculous! Oh, I realize it's convenient. It's easy. But it's stupid!
Waste water is what goes down the pipes every time you flush. Waste water is water that has been wasted! It's as simple as that. So why waste water?
What About The Smell?
When properly installed and maintained, composting toilets have zero smell. ZERO. Which is more than I can say for some flush toilet bathrooms I have encountered in my life.
From the eco RI news:
"Composting toilets have been a fixture in Rhode Island for about 15 years.
The first nature-friendly system was installed during a major renovation of the Miquamicut State Beach pavilion in the 1990s. Today, there are some 20 composting commodes at state parks, beaches and campgrounds."
From the New York Times:
"In addition to catching raindrops, homeowners and building managers are trying out another way to conserve water: composting toilets.
Last month the city of Austin, Tex.,approved it's first composting toilet. Columbus, Ohio is adding some composting toilets to its parks. Officials in Dutchess County, N.Y., are studying the concept."
The town of Falmouth, Massachusetts recently posted this on their wed site:
"Falmouth is providing a subsidy of up to $5,000 to homes and businesses willing to participate in the Eco-Toilet Incentive Program. This Program will evaluate the real contribution that eco-toilets can make, and the real cost of installation. To be part of the Program, homeowners or businesses must replace or remove all of their standard flush-type toilets with eco-toilets of the composting, urine diverting, or combination type. Data from this study will be used to assess how much nitrogen and phosphorus is removed by eco-toilets, and costs for this level of nutrient reduction."
See... ? Composting toilets are catching on! So be assured, they don't stink.
Life Is Change
It's true, composting toilets look a bit different, and work differently than a water wasting flush toilet. But water flush toilets looked different, and worked differently than the outhouses and chamber pots they replaced. Sometimes change is good, and worth embracing.
If you can't switch to a composting toilet right away, try this in your bathroom:
If it's yellow,
Let it mellow.
If it's brown,
Flush it down.
