Waterless toilets have gained approval around the world with developing countries adopting new technologies in the disposal of human wastes and improving sanitation.

When dealing with waterless toilets all you need to know is how to use, care and maintain them.

Some of the waterless toilet technology and emerging trends that households are embracing to change their sanitation include vaporizing poop, incineration, composting and the nanotechnology toilet.

Let’s look at some of the waterless technology and trends in a little detail.

• Incineration

This waterless technology works by burning waste into sterile ash which is then dumped into a trash container. The combustion is carried out in an incinerating chamber built with the feces being transported through an electric exhaust pipe.

The torching of human feces to ash takes up huge amounts of energy to achieve making the process use a lot of fuel for the combusting process. The types of fuel used in this emerging trend are diesel, propane and natural gas.

Although there might be a foul smell emanating from the incinerating chambers when wastes are torched, the stench is short-lived.

• Vaporizing Poop

With human excretion being about 75% water, this newly developed waterless toilet trend basically vaporizes human feces as a way of disposing of waste and improving sanitation.

The toilet operates using a moisture-sucking material known as a polymer which draws out all water from the excreta leaving the solid waste dehydrated and releasing water vapor.

Upon vaporization, the poop transforms into minute dried turds. The process of separating the water from the solid excreta is rapid making it stink-free.

• Composting

Another emerging trend in waste disposal using the waterless toilet is composting. This technology of waste disposal works by turning human wastes into compost through natural decomposing.

Collected waste is emptied into a compost box where it is allowed to decay naturally. Each time the toilet is used basic materials such as ash and sawdust are added to help with the process.

The end-product is then utilized in enriching the soil with sufficient nutrients for growing shrubs and flowers. It can be used to grow edible plants if it is sterilized or treated. Otherwise, utilize it on non-edible plants only.

The composting toilets should emit no bad odor when functioning properly. Most people cringe at the thought of installing the waterless toilets because of fear of a stinking house.

If the toilet smells, then there must be a problem. The secret to the composting toilet trend is in ensuring your toilet is properly fixed and maintained. It plays a huge role in waste management and sanitation.

• Pervaporation

This waste disposal process makes use of the nanotechnology where water is removed from human waste to achieve dry solid refuse that is free of parasites and pathogens.

The interior on the toilet chamber is lined with very fine fibers referred to as nanofibers. These help in moving the water vapor from the fluid waste up a perpendicular conduit situated behind the toilet.

The toilet is also built with a scraper tool to peel off any remaining waste in the bowl as the solid refuse settles at the foot of the vat while the fluid settles at the top.

The water vapor from the waste is then sterilized and condensed back to water and that can be used by households for cleaning, bathing, cooking and tending to edible gardens.  On the other hand, the dry solid waste can then be utilized as fuel or fertilizer.

The Nanomembrane toilet is backed by Bill Gates who through his foundation provided grants to researchers at University of Cranfield for the development of the lab prototype and to further improve on the technology used in the waterless toilet.

The Waterless Toilet Tricks

If you have a few tricks up your sleeve, the waterless toilet can be one of the best features you can use in sanitation and environmental conservation.

One of the tricks homeowners use to keep their toilets odor-free is adding 2 tablespoons of sugar or a cup of vinegar in the tank to reduce the bad smell.

Another trick when using waterless toilets is maintaining a spritz mixture of vinegar and water to wipe off dirt from the toilet using toilet paper. This will help in leaving the toilet smelling fresh after use.

For composting toilets, the trick is in adding Coco coir, the abrasive outer husks of mature coconut fruits, into the compost container to help in aeration and drainage. This will ward off foul odor from the toilet.

The other trick homeowners can use to freshen their waterless systems is removing any caked urine buildup on the fluid tank by vigorously shaking  3 inches of vinegar and 1 inch of rocks in the vat.

Despite all the tricks above, it is advisable to ensure proper maintenance of the waterless system on a regular basis. Regular maintenance will help to ensure that your system is functioning as it should and has no broken parts.

Waterless toilets especially the composting type smell when there is lack of an appropriate carbon-nitrogen mix to help aerate the pile and prevent compacting of waste.

If the toilet has a high moisture content and the pile is poorly drained then the toilet is a potential source of a bad stench.

Here are some of the waterless toilet tips that will help you maintain a well-functioning waterless system with less likelihood of bad odor in the home.

1.      Regularly empty the composting container when full

If yours is a composting toilet, ensure that the vat is emptied as soon as it fills up.

Depending on the size of the container, the number of users, or frequency of use you will be able to determine how often you need to empty the compost.

If the container is not emptied as appropriate then it becomes a potential source of a bad odor.

2.      Properly drain the Pile

The presence of high moisture content in disposed waste results in poor decaying processes, especially in composting toilets.

Diverting urine away from the solid wastes is one way of reducing the moisture content to prevent a stench.

When the liquid runoff does not come into contact with fecal matter, it can be taken through evapotranspiration and sterilized before being used as fertilizer.

3.      Use Bulking Agents

Adding Carbon-based material is an awesome way of hastening the decomposing process and reducing the foul smell in composting toilets.

Add softwood shavings and dry leaves to the compost container on a daily basis or with each use to aid the process.

4.      Install Fans

The final tip that helps homeowners enjoy their waterless systems is the use of fans to help in proper ventilation and aeration.

A good fan is one that is not clogged with dust or insects and does not easily unplug once installed.