Best Composting Toilet – Expert Reviews & Buying Guide [2020]

Are you looking for the best composting toilet that is easy to use even when on the go? What you need is a composting toilet. It works well for tiny homes, cabins, and recreational vehicles (RVs). Composting toilets help homeowners and travelers maintain high levels of hygiene.

They also come in handy in outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. There are different brands to choose from. However, when the market is full of products, it might be confusing deciding which item to buy. Below are the expert reviews about the best composting toilet.

Quick Answer – Best Value Composting Toilet

1. Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet

2. Camco 41535 Premium Portable Travel Toilet

3. Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet

4. Nature’s Head Composting Toilet

5. Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Self-Contained Composting Toilet

Top 7 Best Composting Toilet Reviews

Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet

Nature’s Head Self is quite an interesting name for a toilet. It alludes to how this product works in the most environmental-friendly manner. Well, it comes with several features. For example, this item is self-contained making it even more hygienic and easy to use. You do not need an exterior composting system. It saves you time.

About construction, Nature’s is made from stainless steel. This gives it a sleek look. The steel is durable considering it does not rust.

Therefore, it will look as good as new even after use for a while. The seat is of full size and has an elongation to make it as comfortable as possible for users. The rugged construction makes this brand sturdy and resistant to damage such as scratches.

Putting together the toilet is a walk in the park. If you need to empty it, dismantling is a simple task. With the vent hose and fan, this product has adequate air circulation to ensure waste decomposes well. The fan also keeps it fresh. You do not have to worry about odors, which can cause considerable discomfort, especially in an enclosed area.

This brand has closed quarters for hygiene purposes and a spider handle that is simple to operate. The design is modern, reliable, and portable. It weighs 28 pounds only thus easy to carry and travel with. It also takes up little giving room for other bathroom essentials.

Camco 41535 Premium Portable Travel Toilet

Camco 41535 Premium has various features that put it on the list for starters, it flushes in a three-directional manner. This means it is thorough in ensuring waste flows efficiently into the composting tank. The dumping elbow and swivel boost its performance.

If you intend to engage in fun activities such as boating and camping, this is one of the best portable travel toilets to buy. An empty Camco is only 11pounds, and when full it weighs 42.5 lbs. This increases portability.

The 3.75-gallon flush tank provides you with sufficient water all the time to keep the toilet clean. With a 2.6-gallon detachable holding tank, the capacity will serve you for a while before it requires emptying. No one likes smells from human waste.

Therefore, the Camco included a sliding valve in the product to keep odors inside the holding compartment.

Now, this brand incorporates a strong ABS material that makes it last. The ABS is sleek, prevents odor, and is easy to clean. While the flush action leaves the bowl sparkling, the dumping elbow fastens waste removal.

When you love stylish designs, think about buying this portable travel toilets. Its grey, black, and white color combos are appealing to the eye. Assembling and dismantling it cannot be any easier. If you have any doubts, there is a manual to confirm.

Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle

Why would a brand appear more than one in a review? Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet features and satisfactory functionality makes it possible. Well, this model offers you the best value, user-friendly and easy setup. It encompasses a rigid design that makes it tough enough to stand damage and shock.

The molded design adds to its beauty and innovative construction. A crank agitator at the base of the item fosters quick composting. The vent hose supplies the holding tank sufficient air to encourage fast performance. Use the crank handle for extra user-friendliness when operating the toilet.

Remember, this make of Nature’s head is waterless. This way, it is safer to use in your vehicle. Consider it an example of the best composting toilet for RV. The fact that it has a compact design yet it is lightweight makes it highly portable. The hardware is all stainless steel. It is durable and will be last longer. It will be some time before you buy another composting toilet.

Use the toilet in any weather, and it will work just fine. The grey shade suits any interior. However, if you do not care about colors, then this product is a worthwhile purchase.

Nature’s Head Composting Toilet with Spider Handle

Nature’s Head has made a name for itself. With this model, you stand to enjoy fantastic customer service. Any query you pass across receives satisfactory attention. You do not need to pay a handyman to install the toilet for you. If you do DIY tasks for yourself at home, this toilet will not be a big deal to set up.

Are you worried about odors in your home, cabin, or RV? This brand saves you frustration. It does not cause bad smell wherever you install it. Besides, it does not require any maintenance. All you do is clean it, and it is good to go.

If you are looking for the right composting toilet with a large capacity, it can be the best choice for you. It accommodates two people use, and it needs emptying every 4-6weeaks. Removing the composted matter takes a few minutes.

When you compare this product to other toilets, you will notice that it is a huge improvement on many designs on the market. The spider handle makes it even more usable regardless of your skillset. The 28pounds weight is easily portable making mobility and transportation a lot easier.

Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Self-Contained Composting Toilet

Sun-Mar is moderately tall, thus comfortable to sit on. NE means non-electric. You do not need any power source to use this product, a factor that saves you extra energy costs. Therefore, you can use this toilet in the remotest areas with no access to electricity.

This model suits any bathroom. It is waterless; a feature that ensures it works even in regions where water is a problem. This is a non-polluting product perfect for green technology enthusiasts.

Sun-Mar NE consists of a bio-drum with a variable diameter. It does a great composting job. It can handle medium to high use. Therefore, it is appropriate for daily use or a weekend get-away in a cabin or camping. The vent guarantees maximum waste composting.

The product is self-contained, odorless, and safe. Electric shock will not be a concern because it is non-electric. Compared to previous composting toilets, Sun is a little heavier weighing 90 pounds. Nonetheless, it is worth every penny.

Sun-Mar Excel Self-Contained Composting Toilet

This makes uses of a bio-drum for effective functioning. Like the other Sun-Mar model, it is non-polluting, which goes a long way in protecting the earth. It also uses no water making it suitable for places without plumbing systems.

The Excel model works in any setting be it light commercial use, residential or occasional use at a cabin. Like the other products in the review, Excel is odorless. It can handle either a large number of eight people or a small number of four people.

It all depends on whether you are using it every day or on selected occasions. If it is a weekend, the toilet can serve eight people appropriately.

The detachable footrest enables simple setup and dismantling. It takes minutes to put together. This product is pest-proof as well. It includes a vent for air circulation and an emergency drain.

Unlike the other Sun product, this one is electric. Therefore, this brand gives you an option. The inventors understand that users have different needs; not everyone likes non-electric equipment.

However, it weighs 100 pounds, 10 pounds higher than the other model. It comes with a venting kit in case of any problem.

Separett Villa Composting Toilet

Separett Villa features a simple design. It is small and compact to suit travelers and those with small houses. Its white shade looks great in any décor. Are you searching for waterless composting toilets? You can include Separett on your shopping list.

It is a urine-diverting unit. This means urine and solid waste and toilet paper do not mix. The urine flows to a holding tank or a grey water system while the solid waste goes to a compostable liner bag.

To power the toilet, you need a solar source, battery or AC power. Therefore, it is usable in areas with or without electricity. There is no need of buying two separate toilets for off-grid and on-grid use.

The fan uses little air making this product one of the best composting toilets for a tiny house. It will not suck up all the air in your home. The brand is perfect for children, as it comes with a child seat accessory.

Features To Look For The Best Composting Toilets

Now, the last thing you need to buy the right product. Here are a few important points to help you purchase the best toilet you need.

Durability

Durability has to do with the material used in manufacturing a product. It is essential that you purchase high-quality, sturdy products. A durable toilet lasts and is able to stand damage.

Powering

This factor regards the kind of energy a composting toilet utilizes in converting human waste into usable humus. There are electric and non-electric brands. Whichever appeals to your preference is what you should buy.

Nonetheless, both types work just fine as long as you can afford them. Also, consider the other types we have already discussed, which include remote, self-composting, and waterless toilets.

Capacity

Capacity concerns the size of the item you want to acquire. The toilet size you select depends on two things the number of people to use it and how often they will be using it. A higher number and daily use require a big toilet.

If you intend to utilize the toilet on a day trip or a hike, then a small size would be appropriate. In a small household, a larger capacity means less frequent emptying.

Decomposing Rate

It would be prudent to buy a composting toilet that is fast at breaking down waste. An electric type is usually quick considering it relies on electricity as a source of power. You can still find a non-electric model that works efficiently too.

Design

Our expert guide provides about their reviews both self-contained and central composting toilets. It is up to you to select a design that will best serve your needs.

If you were the only one using a composting toilet in the neighborhood, a self-contained model would be suitable. The central composting model is fit for areas where several people have embraced composting toilet innovation.

Space Available

You should ensure that you have enough room to install the toilet. However, most products come in sizes that fit in tiny houses and recreational vehicles.

Portability

There are composting toilets are weighing as low as 28lbs. You can be sure of finding lightweight products that are easy to carry around whenever need be.

With these points in mind, you stand a better chance of buying the excellent composting toilet. This way, you will be able to avoid low-quality products that will only cost you money.

What is a Composting Toilet?

It is a type of toilet that decomposes the human waste into compost. It uses oxygen to break down waste into a safe compost. The toilet does not require a plumbing system to get rid of the waste.

A composting toilet would not work well during winter. It is because weather conditions during this season are usually too extreme for the composting bacteria to break down waste properly.

Remember, these microorganisms need warm temperatures to function accordingly. Therefore, the hummus you get at such a time may not be rich in nutrients due to the inefficient decomposition.

How Does It Work?

A composting toilet works by separating solid waste and urine. Urine is a source of ammonia, which is beneficial to plants. The toilet uses nitrogen, carbon, moisture, favorable temperature, and aerobic bacteria.

The moisture ensures that the composting chamber is not wet. This way, it provides appropriate conditions for the waste to decompose. Carbon and nitrogen come from additional components such as sawdust.

The two need to balance for effective composting. They provide the bacteria with a conducive environment to work. The waste chamber’s temperature is usually within 60°F-100°F.

Types of Composting Toilets

The categorization of composting toilets depends on their functionality. How do they operate?

Dry/waterless

It does not need water to function. Although some products have a flush system, they use very little water. However, dry toilets generally do not use water. They are suitable for household interiors considering they do not cause odors.

Electric

This toilet uses electricity for composting. It features a fan to ensure there is continuous air circulation. Electric toilets use a wall outlet or batteries to work while some use solar energy to power the fans.

You should not that electric composting toilets are faster and more efficient at decomposing human waste than non-electric makes. However, they cost a little higher than non-electric models.

Non-Electric

This type uses alternatives to electricity such as wind turbines to power the composting process. However, it requires you to use the hand crank to ensure solid waste mixes well. Yes, a non-electric toilet could be slower than electric toilets but it is a worthwhile choice if you love green products.

Self-Composting

A self-composting toilet has a compost system below the bowl. It does not use a different area to change waste into safe manure. Therefore, if you were going camping or hiking, this would be the toilet to carry. This brings us to a remote or central composting toilet.

Central/Remote

It does not encompass a composting chamber below the bowl. Instead, it directs waste to a composter elsewhere. The composter can serve several composting toilets. Therefore, it is suitable for areas with multiple composting toilets.

How We Installed A Composting Toilet

Benefits of a Composting Toilet

We have already mentioned some of the benefits of this toilet. Just to emphasize, it saves on energy and water since it uses little or no water. The non-electric type reduces energy bills.

A composting toilet does not smell. It increases convenience when you are on the go, for instance, in your recreational vehicle.

The composting process is safe for the environment (non-polluting), and so is the compost. Installation is not a difficult task.

Final Verdict

Composting toilets have proven to be helpful in areas with water problems, during drought, and areas without plumbing systems. They have assisted people to foster hygienic and sanitary conditions in their homes, cabins, recreational vehicles, and even during camping.

For example, from the above composting toilet reviews, it is possible to find the right products that will work perfectly for you.

Look at factors such as size, ease of use, installation, and types of composting when deciding which toilet to buy. Keep in your mind the great informative points for the purchase and you are good to go.

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