Do you live in a tiny house and do not want to deal with flushing toilets? Are you worried about the amount of water wasted while flushing every time you use the toilet? Do you have a spark for adventure and need a portable toilet? If you answered yes to any of the questions, getting a composting toilet could be ideal for you.
We live at a time when protecting our planet is the need of the hour. We need to reduce our carbon footprint and preserve our resources better. If we think about it, flushing gallons of fresh drinkable water down the toilet every year seems redundant. That is especially so when you can excrete in an eco-friendly manner by using a composting toilet. There are plenty of options to choose from the composting toilets available in the market. However, to make the process easier for you, we have found the best tiny house composting toilets for you.
Table of Contents
Our Top Picks of The Best Tiny House Composting Toilets
Without further ado, let us list our favorite composting toilets available in the market.
- Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Spider Handle
- Thetford Porta Potti Toilet
- Camco Portable Compost Toilet
- Separett Villa 9215 Composting Toilet
- Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Touchless Flush Composting Toilet
Product Reviews
Given below are reviews of our best tiny house composting toilets. These detailed reviews walk you through how each toilet works and breaks down each usability, specifications, size, and eco-friendliness.
1. Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Spider Handle
Nature’s Head is a trusted company from the United States that innovates and creates eco-friendly everyday utility products. The company’s Composting Toilet with Spider Handle is great to conserve our resources.
With the help of the toilet, you can save up to 20 gallons of water a day. This is possible because instead of flushing, your toilet waste is mixed in the soil to catalyze the composting process. But do not worry; the waste does not have to be composed manually. The spider handle fixture does it for you easily.
An aeration system keeps the unpleasant fecal smell from filling up your nose – or worse, your house. The Nature’s Head composting seat comes with a fan and a vent. The provided hose can be used to dump your waste into a public sewer or a septic tank.
All these parts only use the amount of energy provided by an RV motor or even a battery.
Another wonderful thing about the Nature’s Head composting toilet is that it separates the liquids from the solids to prevent creating a biohazard. This also allows you to have almost a month before you have to empty the toilet contents because of slowed decomposing.
This separating is done through a liquid/solid valve at the base of the seat.
The compost bin is filled with natural peat and sawdust. A combination of these and the fan prevents your toilet from ever emitting a foul smell. However, the sawdust and peat moss have to be bought separately and can’t be dumped in a public sewer. These toilets with compost are even easy to assemble and clean. Therefore, with minimal water and electricity usage, this is overall the best tiny house composting toilet.
Pros
- Separates liquids from solids
- Easy to clean
- Only requires emptying 1-2 times in a month
- Completely waterless
- Easy to fit anywhere
- Does not smell
- Convenient composting option
Cons
- The moss and sawdust have to be bought separately
- Solid waste can only be used for flowerbed composting
- You might forget to flip the liquid/solid value and end up creating a mess
2. Thetford Porta Potti Toilet
If you live in a tiny house and want a high-end product for your toilet needs, Thetford Porta Potti Toilet is worth taking a look at. This is an extremely portable toilet as it breaks into two halves for easy assembly and dismantling.
The top half of this toilet holds up to 4 gallons of clean water while the lower half can hold up to 5.5. gallons of waste. This is one of the best tiny house composting toilets because it is comprehensive and can be fit anywhere. It consists of its seat, lid, toilet paper holder, flusher, and cistern.
The lower half that is reserved for waste storage is odor-sealed. The upper half that stores water has a gauge that indicates the time to refill the water tank. The toilet also comes with a spot and a valve that prevents any risks of slash-back. This helps in emptying the toilet easily. It also comes with a front handle that allows you to hoist up the seat conveniently.
The waste can be emptied into a septic tank or a regular toilet. This removes the problem of having to look for a convenient place to throw waste into safely.
If you choose to use this toilet in a remote area, you will have to install a manual flusher. This is because the flusher does not work without batteries.
The toilet uses much less water and electricity than conventional toilets. It requires daily emptying, though, which can be a problem.
Pros
- A stylish and eco-friendly alternative to conventional toilets
- It is easily portable
- The battery-powered operation dismisses electricity consumption
- Easy emptying system
Cons
- Has to be cleaned daily
- There can be a gas buildup in the lower half. That has to be taken care of while emptying
3. Camco Portable Compost Toilet
The Camco Portable Toilet is the answer to your on-budget toilet needs. However, even if you’re on a budget, you don’t have to miss the environmental-friendly properties of a compost toilet.
This toilet has a different take from the Nature’s Head composting toilet on separating solids from liquids. It separates the waste storage tank from the flush tank and links them with two latches that prevent contamination. The latches also keep the toilet in place.
The separate tanks are separated by a scent-proof and waterproof gate valve. If the latches are shut securely, you can lift a full toilet without having to worry about spillage of smelly waste.
This separating mechanism is convenient while emptying the 5.3-gallon waste tank. It also prevents biohazard and lets you use it several times before having to empty it.
The toilet uses less than half the water used in a regular toilet to flush the waste into the storage tank. It also composts waste inside with the help of Camco TST, which treats the waste and also gives a deodorizing smell. The Camco TST can be put into septic tanks as it is biodegradable. Maintenance and cleaning of this tank are also easy. The toiler has two caps, one of which is unscrewed to pour in flushing water, while the other cap is used for flushing. The toilet is toilet paper friendly and can be cleaned by wiping with a wet rag.
Pros
- Lightweight, sturdy, and easily portable
- The plastic body is easy to clean
- The gate valves keep all smells and waste inside
Cons
- You need to bleach the holding tank to prevent the plastic from absorbing the smell
- It has a small storage tank
4. Separett Villa 9215 Composting Toilet
The very name of this toilet reminds you of an important characteristic of compost toilets – separating liquids from solids. By doing so, your solid waste’s decomposition is controlled, and your liquid waste is evaporated.
The Villa 9215 is sturdy and does not need assembly. It is a one-piece toilet that works without hassle. Unlike the Nature Head’s liquid storage tank, the liquids from this toilet are dispensed through a hose. The solids are stored in a removable bucket that has its lid for hygiene and safety.
The toilet does not require scrubbing and can be cleaned with a damp soapy cloth. Rinsing the toilet with white vinegar every week will keep the toilet clean and fresh.
The Villa 9215 requires plumbing while fixing. The package includes everything you might need to do so, along with a bio-tablet to aid cleaning.
Since the toilet is connected to an outlet hose, the lid has an insect screen to keep any pests from entering your composting toilet. The Separett Villa is a great option if you are not a fan of composting inside the toilet itself. The hose outlet allows the toilet to be shorter than other composting toilets, making it more comfortable for some people.
An aeration system further keeps pests and flies away while also getting rid of any possible odor build-up.
Pros
- It is easy to clean
- The waste is not composed within the toilet
- The one-piece design is great to use instantly
- It can be used regularly for a month before emptying
Cons
- Requires plumbing
- The urine drainage hose is only 6 feet long
- Could cause some flies to find their way into your toilet
5. Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Touchless Flush Composting Toilet
Sun-Mar is one of the leading health facilities that manufacture composting toilets. All of their products are high-end, well built, innovative, and effective. The Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Touchless Flush Compost Toilet is no exception.
If you are looking for the best tiny house composting toilet when hygiene and power saving are your biggest concerns, this is a great product for you. This composting toilet works without electricity and can be used even in off-grid areas that do not have access to power.
The odor management system is as strong in the non-electric Excel composting toilet as in the electric variant. The toilet comes with an opening kit to prevent odor production. The thing that sets this toilet apart from others is that it is thermostatically controlled, letting it evaporate liquids as quickly as possible.
It also has a diverter for liquid and solid wastes, which makes the decomposing process more reliable. The solid waste resulting from this toilet can be used as compost in flower gardens.
This toilet is NSF certified, which adds to the reliability and hygiene of the product. It also has a sturdy and wide design, which can be used by just about anyone.
Pros
- Extremely eco-friendly
- Runs without water and electricity
- Effective odor-free system
- Separates liquids from solids
- Perfect for off-grid living
Cons
- The bowl is on an uncomfortable height
- Some people complain of leakage of liquid waste
Compost Toilet Buyer’s Guide
Most people buy only a single compost toilet in their life. It is, therefore, necessary to choose the toilet that suits your needs perfectly. Given below are some things that you should think about before buying a compost toilet.
1. Size
The foremost thing to keep in mind while looking for the best tiny house composting toilet is space. You need to be aware of the space you have in your bathroom to place a composting toilet and then compare that with the size of the toilet you’re willing to buy.
You should always have some extra space around the toilet so that you can use it without feeling stuck to the walls.
2. Tank Capacity
While some compost toilets can be used for a month without requiring emptying, some need daily emptying. The frequency is also dependent on the number of people who use the toilet.
Generally, you should get a composting toilet that doesn’t need to be emptied daily. Medium to large-sized baskets is ideal even for single person use. However, small tanks are great if you only want to use the toilet for a week or so.
3. Water and Electricity Usage
The less the water and electricity usage, the more environment-friendly the toilet. Little to no water and electricity usage also lets you use the compost toilet in remote places that do not have access to such facilities.
However, waterless and non-electric toilets can sustain odor and can be difficult to clean if the solid waste is not being composted continuously.
4. Cleanliness
If you live in a tiny house, cleanliness is crucial. This is so because the smallest mess can cause huge problems in a smaller space. Therefore, you should make sure that the compost toilet that you’re buying can be cleaned easily and has ways to manage odor.
Pungent smells within the house are unbearable and undesirable. So is a toilet that refuses to clean easily. Plastic lined toilets are easy to clean with wet and soapy rags.
5. Utility
Compost toilets have different utilities that you can choose from. Some of them compost waste inside themselves, giving you solid waste that can be used as a fertilizer. Some toilets have accessory holders, which are crucial for toilet paper needs.
While compost toilets are meant to be simple and easy to use, a few utilities are a great addition to your compost toilet. Think about the things you absolutely need near and in your compost toilet and check if the toilet you’re buying has them.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do Composting Toilets Save the Environment?
Human waste is rich in bacteria and can be broken down into the soil. The composted material that comes out of a composting toilet is a great fertilizer. It can provide a lot of nutrients that trees require to grow healthily.
Flushing toilets waste a lot of water in disposing of human waste. This water could be put to better use. Using waterless composting toilets saves water and also reduce sewage waste. This is an overall societal and environmental necessity.
Most composting toilets use little to no water and electricity. With the best of composting toilets, saving our resources has never been easier.
2. How Do I Keep My Compost Toilet from Smelling?
You can keep compost toilets from smelling by adding sawdust and moss to your solid compost storage basket. Moss and sawdust are efficient in absorbing smell and also catalyze the composting process.
You can also line your compost toilet with plastic bags to prevent the solid plastic from absorbing any smell.
3. Can I Make My Own Composting Toilet?
Yes, building your compost toilet is easy. There are many ways to do it. You can use a plastic container to hold your waste or place sawdust filled clay urns under a comfortable seat.
A two-chamber model is an easy compost toilet to build by yourself. This design aims to use one bucket until it is full and let another one be idle. When the first bucket is full, you can set it aside for composting while the other one goes under your seat.
Endnotes
Compost toilets are a great substitution for regular toilets if you’re living in a tiny house. This is so because they do not take up a lot of space.
This eco-friendly innovation was restricted to RVs or tiny houses at their commencement. However, with its growing success, popularity, and environmental awareness, composting toilets can be found for houses of many sizes.
Compost toilets are also a great way to preserve the environment as they use less water and electricity. The waste from your compost toilet works as a great fertilizer. Therefore, you optimize your eco-friendly surrounding with the use of a compost toilet.
James Fields is the founder of Gardener to Farmer. His passion for gardening goes back to his childhood days when he would visit his grandfather during the holidays and help him with the plants in the backyard. This has now translated to creating a dependable resource for gardening.