Read on for our final note on the environmental benefits of composting toilets!
Environmental Benefit 3 - Nutrients are Recycled, Not Wasted
Did you know that over 90% of the waste we produce is actually water? When the water is removed, and salts are oxidized, only about 3% of the original waste is left. When this small 3% is properly decomposed, valuable nutrients are leftover, creating a fertilizer that is ideal for plants, trees, and shrubs. By flushing our waste down the drain, we waste an enormous amount of water simply to transport the waste to another location where those valuable nutrients will be disposed of, instead of recycled back to nature. A composting toilet, on the other hand is a completely self-sufficient system that does not waste water and uses very little energy.
The primary function of any composting toilet is to first evaporate all the water, leaving behind the very small amount of solid matter. In a properly functioning composting toilet, this solid matter need not be seen or dealt with directly by the homeowner until it is completely processed (decomposed), at which point it will look like nothing more than inoffensive garden soil. This compost can then be added to your flower garden, trees, or shrubs, where it will provide excellent growth benefits for those plants.
As anyone can see, composting toilets make a lot of sense when compared to their traditional, water-wasting counterparts. So if you are someone who is concerned about the environment, or who simply wants to save money on your water bill, and if you need to replace a toilet in the near future, it might be time to give composting toilets a little further consideration and research. Today’s modern systems are clean and sleek, completely odorless, and very easy to install and maintain. By installing a composting toilet, you’ll save money in the long run, and you can rest easy knowing that you’re doing something really great for the environment, too.
