Composting toilets - are they for you?

A few years ago, composting toilets were the sole domain of greenies or people who lived in rural areas with no access to sewage systems.

But in this climate of water conservation, they are becoming a more attractive option. They can save up to 35,000 litres of water a year and protect our waterways from pollutants. So why aren't they more popular?

"People are put off because they've used them in national parks and on the sides of roads, where they're not very well maintained," according to Stuart Elliott of Nature Loo. "But if they're working properly, they shouldn't smell." Domestic models come equipped with an extraction fan to take air out of the bathroom through a ventilation pipe.

Maintaining privacy and hygiene with composting toilets

People are also put off by the idea that you can see the toilet waste, says Stuart, but today's models are more discreet. Many incorporate a barrier between the pedestal and the storage container, and most are black inside, making it difficult to see their contents in natural light.

Decomposition with a compost toilet

Composting toilets work by organic decomposition. Instead of flushing the waste, they collect it in a storage container where liquids are drained away and the remaining solids gradually break down into an odourless substance much like soil. This needs to be removed a few times a year, and most people will do it themselves. "A typical family might produce a wheelbarrow load a year," Stuart says, and this can either be buried or spread on the garden.

The storage chamber requires space under the floor that needs to be accessible in order to empty the unit. Stand-alone models are available for homes built on concrete slabs or without adequate clearance, but these often have a smaller capacity than the under-floor models.

Market reach with compost toilets

Although they are still predominantly sold to the rural market, composting toilets are becoming more common in urban dwellings. Check with your local council, however, because in some states composting toilets are banned where there is access to a sewerage pipe.

When it comes to cleaning, composting toilets require just a quick scrub with a toilet brush and some biodegradable detergent from time to time and as for looks, they can be quite attractive and colour-matched to your bathroom.

To see different prices and ranges of composting toilets, head to a friendly environmental products store near you: