This category of wastewater systems consists of products most commonly referred to as composting toilets. Composting toilets use little or no water and do not require hookup to a sewer or septic system. They work by providing an enclosed environment that allows the natural process of aerobic decomposition to occur. Basically, this is the same process used in nature, where wildlife droppings are decomposed and converted into nutrients.
Composting toilets normally compost anything organic, including human waste, food scraps, egg shells, paper and cardboard, lawn clippings, and other small garden trimmings. If you are considering the use of such a product, check with your local public health authority to find out what requirements they may have governing the installation and use of such a product. Most states and counties will require that a compost toilet be certified in accordance with NSF/ANSI Standard 41. For a list of companies and products certified to this standard, please visit our wastewater treatment units online product database.
