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Composting Toilet Like a Normal Toilet – How Close Can You Make It?
Composting toilet feels like like an unwanted alternative for many of us, understandably. But does it have to be that way? The answer is: totally not! Modern composting toilets can be made very much like a regular toilet, just without water. In this article we share advices how to make a composting toilet as normal toilet as possible.
1. Choose a Porcelain Toilet Pedestal
To make a composting toilet as close to a regular flush toilet, you have got to use a special porcelain toilet pedestal designed specifically for waterless toilets. The special porcelain toilet is very elegant and feels just like a regular toilet. The only difference is that the waterless porcelain toilet is not flushed after use. That said, the dry porcelain toilet can easily be kept clean with a conventional toilet brush and a little bit of water for example from a water bottle or bidet.
2. Hidden Composting Unit Under Floor Level
The secret to a modern composting toilet is to use an external composting unit under the bathroom floor level. This design makes the waste fall straight into the composting unit from the porcelain toilet through a vertically straight waste pipe. One of the many advantages of this set up is that there rarely ever is clear visibility into the waste from the toilet above – unless you point out the waste with a torchlight.
3. Ventilation for the Composting Unit
One of the most important features of any composting toilet is effective ventilation. This typically involves installing a vent pipe that runs from the composting unit along the back wall of your house or restroom building. The ventilation should be assisted by an electric fan whenever electricity is available. If not, a Whirlybird wind-driven ventilator or a Solar Panel Fan are excellent alternatives.
Proper ventilation ensures that any odors are immediately drawn out of the composting unit while you’re still using the toilet. In fact, the compost is typically nearly odorless by itself, thanks to the way excess moisture is separated from the solids. With proper ventilation, even faint odors are immediately carried outside.
Want to learn more about odor control? Check out our article: Do Composting Toilets Smell?
4. Keeping Daily Use Simple
Living off-grid with a composting toilet is not complicated. In fact, using a composting toilet is almost exactly like using a regular flush toilet. We encourage designing and decorating your bathroom to look and feel just like any other — comfortable and familiar.
In most cases, you won’t even need to leave special instructions for guests, especially when using a porcelain toilet pedestal. Since there are no moving parts to operate, there’s no risk of anything being used incorrectly or broken.
Showering in the same bathroom is no problem either. Just be mindful not to use an overly powerful bathroom exhaust fan, as it could potentially reverse the airflow from the composting toilet’s ventilation system. With the right setup, a composting toilet can be just as user-friendly and intuitive as any standard toilet.
5. Consider Upgrading to Urine-Diverting Toilet
A urine-diverting toilet (often called a UD toilet) is an optional upgrade to a standard non-diverting porcelain toilet. UD toilets aren’t always necessary, since many composting units are already designed to separate excess moisture from the solids. However, there are situations where a UD toilet is especially beneficial.
For example, if there’s no electricity to power a fan that helps airflow and evaporation, a UD toilet ensures the composting unit stays dry. Since most odor issues come from compost that’s too wet, this can be a simple way to maintain a consistently low moisture level and keep everything odor-free.
Because the UD toilet manages moisture so effectively on its own, you’ll often need less dry bulking material, which means the composting unit can handle more waste before reaching capacity. This extends the time between servicing.
It’s worth noting, however, that around 80–90% of human waste volume is liquid urine. This means a UD toilet will produce more separated liquid that needs to be managed, compared to a non-diverting toilet.
Want to explore this topic in more detail? Check out our article on Urine Separation in Composting Toilets.
6. Interior Design Tips
If you want your composting toilet to look and feel just like a regular bathroom, it’s worth paying attention to the overall interior design. Choose bright white tiles or other light finishes, add thoughtful lighting, and include the usual bathroom accessories such as a mirror, towel racks, and a small cabinet.
All these familiar touches work together to create a space that looks and feels like any standard bathroom. With a porcelain composting toilet, the setup blends in naturally — making it nearly indistinguishable from a traditional flush toilet environment.
7. Regular Cleaning is the Same
All toilets need regular cleaning — and composting toilets are no different. A waterless composting toilet can be kept clean just like a standard toilet, using a toilet brush and a bit of water. The water source can be as simple as a spray bottle or a small container with a nozzle.
Just be careful not to pour large amounts of water into the composting unit on a daily basis. Remember, a composting toilet is intended to be kept mostly dry — that’s why they’re often called dry toilets. Keeping excess water out ensures the composting process stays balanced and odor-free.
Conclusions
As you can see, a composting toilet can be made to look and function remarkably like a regular toilet — just without the water. By choosing a porcelain toilet pedestal, hiding the composting unit beneath the floor, ensuring proper ventilation, and paying attention to interior design, you can create a bathroom that feels completely normal and comfortable.
Daily use and cleaning are virtually the same, and optional upgrades like urine-diverting toilets can make the system even more efficient and odor-free. With the right setup, most people wouldn’t even notice they’re using a composting toilet.
If you’d like personalized help finding the best composting toilet system for your project, don’t hesitate to contact us at Waterless Toilet Shop.
📱(702) 328 0689
✉ info@waterlesstoiletshop.com
