海角大神

In my about the eco-economical renovation of Sheep Dog Hollow, I鈥檝e written (rather uncomfortably) about the benefits and problems of low flow toilets and disregarded, almost completely, the composting variety.

Chalk it up to a sign of my still-antediluvian green consciousness, memories of camp outhouses, or maybe fear of what鈥檚 perceived as 鈥渆xtreme green.鈥�

But as a result of several people who commented on the most recent post, I realized I was remiss.

One was Marsha who asked simply: 鈥淲hat about waterless toilets?鈥�

Another was Millie, who shared her firsthand experience: 鈥淲e have used a composting toilet and found it satisfactory. We had one with a heater and a circulating fan. Since we live in the Southwest we had to add water to aid the process. The compost was great on trees and shrubs.鈥�

Being a gardener of sorts, that piqued my interest. It turns out that just as great strides have been made in low-flow toilets, so, too, have advances been made in the composting variety.

But some problems with them are obvious, such as the perception that they're 鈥渟melly鈥� and a general societal shying away from the whole idea.

Other problems are more concrete, such as regulatory barriers 鈥� some states won鈥檛 allow them if a sewer system is available 鈥� and the possible impact on the resale value of a home and its potential financing, according to .

Since I really hadn鈥檛 thought seriously about them before, I had to start from the beginning 鈥� attacking my own discomfort while trying to understand how they work.

The site was way ahead of me in noting the uncomfortable memories associated with what they call 鈥渙ld pit (outhouse) toilets.鈥�

That still didn鈥檛 quite answer my questions about exactly how they worked, so I checked out its , which adds:

Actually, there is a 鈥� from simple, self-contained units to centralized systems, complete with roof venting systems, one-pint flush mechanisms, and basement waste collectors.

The costs can also range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, and that doesn鈥檛 include installation. The more I researched the topic, the more surprised I was by how technology has taken up the composting challenge and produced many options.

But then there鈥檚 the obvious question of whether they smell and how much work they require.

Most of the sites I found insist a properly installed and properly operated composting toilet will not smell. The goes even further. Its motto is 鈥淣o Septic. No Plumbing. No Odor. No Problem." It also says"

That makes it sound as though we all should be racing to buy one. But most sites, such as, also put in a caveat, like this: 鈥淭he 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.鈥�

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

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

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

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

That鈥檚 just one of the issues Garden Guides found:

So, despite all of compost toilets鈥� 鈥� from their use of little or no water, to the fact you don鈥檛 need a septic tank, a sewer, or treatment plants, to the production of good compost 鈥� I鈥檓 not ready to take the plunge, as it were.

Nope, at Sheep Dog Hollow we鈥檙e 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鈥檓 currently checking those out.

In the meantime, I found the best buying guide for low flowers at the Green Building Council鈥檚 鈥�.鈥� It鈥檚 a 鈥渕ust read鈥� if you鈥檙e thinking about cutting down on your water usage but like me, still aren鈥檛 quite green enough to go for a composter.

Next: Reconsidering solar.

Editor鈥檚 note: Alexandra Marks blogs twice a week 鈥� usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays 鈥� 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鈥檚 not sure whichwill have the happy ending. Before this project, she worked for 海角大神 for most of the past 20 years, covering everything from healthcare to politicians.