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 Whirlybirdwind-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.
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.
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.
Average Daily Capacity per 26-Gallon Composting Bin
(Based on approx. 150 uses involving a #2 — i.e., poop) – only the solids count!
Service Interval
#2 Visits per Day (involving a #2)
30 days (1 month)
~5.0 visits/day
60 days (2 months)
~2.5 visits/day
90 days (3 months)
~1.7 visits/day
180 days (6 months)
~0.8 visits/day
365 days (1 year)
~0.4 visits/day
👥 Roughly how often will I service a bin?
Full-Time Users
Time Before a Bin Swap
1 person
about 4–5 months
2 people
about 2–3 months
3 people
about 1.5–2 months
4 people
about 1–2 months
🟢 What counts as a “#2 visit”?
Only visits that involve pooping (i.e., going number two) — urine-only visits don’t contribute to filling the composting bin and are not included in the estimate.
🔄 Why two bins?
The Green Toilet Compact Lux comes with two composting bins. The figures above are per bin: when one fills up you swap in the empty one, and the full bin is left to compost undisturbed until you next need it. The second bin doesn’t make the interval longer — it means you never have to empty a bin in a hurry. Additional bins can be added at any time.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These estimates are approximations. The actual number of solid uses per bin may vary significantly depending on climate, temperature, ventilation, user habits, and the amount of dry bulking material (e.g., wood shavings or peat) added after each use.
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Choose how you want to pay — all at once or with flexible installments that fit your budget.
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CF 8 Composting Toilet – Estimated Daily Capacity
The CF 8 is a continuous composting toilet system featuring a single large 250-gallon container. Like the CF 4, it is designed for gradual emptying rather than batch-style use. Solids are typically removed in thirds or sections, allowing earlier deposits time to fully compost inside the tank.
This setup allows for either:
Year-round use with gradual emptying, or
Seasonal use (e.g., 4–5 months/year) with full emptying once per year
🔁 Continuous Use: Gradual Emptying in Thirds
When used year-round, the CF 8 is typically emptied one-third at a time, effectively composting in three rotating “piles” within the container.
Because the CF 8 is more than twice as large as the CF 4, each pile can hold approximately 480–960 poops, depending on composting conditions and how much bulking material is used.
Service Interval (per pile)
Estimated #2 Visits per Day
30 days (1 month)
~17–32 visits/day
60 days (2 months)
~8–16 visits/day
90 days (3 months)
~5–11 visits/day
180 days (6 months)
~3–5 visits/day
365 days (1 year)
~1.2–2.6 visits/day
💡 These figures assume that one-third of the tank is in active use at a time, with older waste given time to compost before removal.
🌤 Seasonal Use: Full-Tank Emptying After Inactive Period
For cabins, cottages, or other sites used seasonally, the CF 8 can be used for a few months and then left idle to allow full composting. In such cases, the entire tank may be emptied once a year.
Full-tank capacity estimate: ~1,440–2,880 poops
Example: 120 days of use (approx. 4 months): → ~12–24 solid visits per day on average
⚠️ Disclaimer
These numbers are rough estimates based on typical use and conditions. Actual capacity will vary depending on:
Climate (temperature and humidity)
Ventilation and air flow
How much dry bulking material is added
User behavior and emptying practices
For best performance, ensure proper aeration, regular bulking material use, and consistent emptying of composted portions.
💡 Want to Maximize Capacity? Consider a Urine-Diverting Toilet — With Some Important Considerations
If you’re looking to maximize the capacity of the CF 8 system — aiming for 960+ poops per composting “pile” — we recommend using aurine-diverting (UD) toilet pedestal.
✅ Benefits of Urine Separation:
Reduces or eliminates the need for dry bulking material, which frees up valuable space in the composting unit
Helps keep the compost drier, more aerated, and better suited for natural decomposition
Increases the total capacity of the composting container
Can lead to faster and more efficient composting, especially in high-use environments
By diverting urine out of the solids container, the volume taken up by absorbent material (like peat or wood shavings) is significantly reduced. This can make a big difference in how often the system needs to be emptied.
⚠️ Downsides to Consider:
Urine-diverting toilets can take some time to get used to. Users need to sit or aim correctly to ensure proper separation, which might not happen consistently without experience or guidance.
For this reason, UD toilets are generally not ideal for public or commercial settings where the toilet is used by guests, tourists, or other first-time users. In these cases, misuse can reduce the effectiveness of the system and may even lead to unpleasant maintenance issues.
In short: A UD toilet is an excellent choice for maximizing capacity in private or family use, but for guest or public access composting toilets, a standard non-diverting model may be more practical and user-friendly.
Green Toilet 100 Easy – Estimated Daily Capacity
The Green Toilet 100 Easyis a compact and user-friendly batch composting toilet with a 26-gallon composting container. Its design makes it well-suited for outhouses, cabins, and even indoor use. A spare containeris available to expand capacity and simplify servicing.
Note: Due to the shape and internal structure of the container, the actual composting capacity is slightly lower than its raw volume might suggest, if you compare with Green Toilet 120 Family composting toilet for example.
📆 Average Daily Capacity per Bin
Service Interval
Estimated #2 Visits per Day
30 days (1 month)
~6–7 visits/day
60 days (2 months)
~3–4 visits/day
90 days (3 months)
~2.2 visits/day
180 days (6 months)
~1.1 visits/day
365 days (1 year)
~0.5 visits/day
Notes & Recommendations:
For seasonal or weekend use, one container often lasts a full summer.
For more frequent use, we recommend the package with a spare container. This allows one bin to rest and compost while the other is in active use.
Don’t forget to add dry bulking material (like wood shavings or peat) regularly to maintain airflow and prevent odors.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These estimates are intended as general guidance. Real-world performance may vary depending on:
Climate and temperature
Ventilation quality
How much dry bulking material is used
Number of users and usage patterns
CF 4 Composting Toilet – Estimated Daily Capacity
The CF 4 is a continuous composting toilet system featuring a single large 105-gallon container. Unlike batch composting systems (such as the Green Toilet models), the CF 4 is designed for gradual emptying — solids are typically removed in thirds or sections, allowing earlier deposits time to fully compost inside the tank.
This setup allows for either:
Year-round use with gradual emptying, or
Seasonal use (e.g. 4–5 months/year) with full emptying once per year
🔁 Continuous Use: Gradual Emptying in Thirds
When used year-round, the CF 4 is typically emptied one-third at a time, effectively composting in three rotating “piles” within the container. Depending on composting conditions and how much bulking material is used, each pile can hold approximately 200–400 poops.
Service Interval (per pile)
Estimated #2 Visits per Day
30 days (1 month)
~7–13 visits/day
60 days (2 months)
~3–7 visits/day
90 days (3 months)
~2–4 visits/day
180 days (6 months)
~1–2 visits/day
365 days (1 year)
~0.5–1.1 visits/day
💡 These figures assume that one third of the tank is in active use at a time, with older waste given time to compost before removal.
🌤 Seasonal Use: Full-Tank Emptying After Inactive Period
For cabins, cottages, or other sites used seasonally, the CF 4 can be used for a few months and then left idle to allow full composting. In such cases, the entire tank may be emptied once a year.
Full-tank capacity estimate: ~600–1,200 poops
Example: 120 days of use (approx. 4 months): → ~5–10 solid visits per day on average
⚠️ Disclaimer
These numbers are rough estimates based on typical use and conditions. Actual capacity will vary depending on:
Climate (temperature and humidity)
Ventilation and air flow
How much dry bulking material is added
User behavior and emptying practices
For best performance, ensure proper aeration, regular bulking material use, and consistent emptying of composted portions.
💡 Want to Maximize Capacity? Consider a Urine-Diverting Toilet — With Some Important Considerations
If you’re looking to maximize the capacity of the CF 4 system — aiming for 400+ poops per composting “pile” — we recommend using a urine-diverting (UD) toilet pedestal.
✅ Benefits of Urine Separation:
Reduces or eliminates the need for dry bulking material, which frees up valuable space in the composting unit
Helps keep the compost drier, more aerated, and better suited for natural decomposition
Increases the total capacity of the composting container
Can lead to faster and more efficient composting, especially in high-use environments
By diverting urine out of the solids container, the volume taken up by absorbent material (like peat or wood shavings) is significantly reduced. This can make a noticeable difference in how often the system needs to be emptied.
⚠️ Downsides to Consider:
Urine-diverting toilets can take some time to get used to. Users need to sit or aim correctly to ensure proper separation, which might not happen consistently without experience or guidance.
For this reason, UD toilets are generally not ideal for public or commercial settings where the toilet is used by guests, tourists, or other first-time users. In these cases, misuse can reduce the effectiveness of the system and may even lead to unpleasant maintenance issues.
In short: A UD toilet is an excellent choice for maximizing capacity in private or family use, but for guest or public access composting toilets, a standard non-diverting model may be more practical and user-friendly.
Green Toilet 120 Family
💩 Average Daily Capacity per 31-Gallon Composting Bin
(Based on approx. 356 uses involving a #2 — i.e., poop) – only the solids count!
Service Interval
#2 Visits per Day (involving a #2)
30 days (1 month)
~11.9 visits/day
60 days (2 months)
~5.9 visits/day
90 days (3 months)
~4.0 visits/day
180 days (6 months)
~2.0 visits/day
365 days (1 year)
~1.0 visits/day
🟢 What counts as a “#2 visit”? Only visits that involve pooping (i.e., going number two) — urine-only visits don’t contribute to filling the composting bin and are not included in the estimate.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These estimates are approximations. The actual number of solid uses per bin may vary significantly depending on climate, temperature, ventilation, user habits, and the amount of dry bulking material (e.g., wood shavings or peat) added after each use.
Green Toilet 330
💩 Average Daily Capacity per 87-Gallon Composting Bin
(Based on approx. 1,000 uses involving a #2 — i.e., poop) – only the solids count!
Service Interval
#2 Visits per Day (involving pooping)
30 days (1 month)
~33 visits/day
60 days (2 months)
~17 visits/day
90 days (3 months)
~11 visits/day
180 days (6 months)
~5.6 visits/day
365 days (1 year)
~2.7 visits/day
🟢 What counts as a “#2 visit”? Only visits that involve defecation (pooping) — urine-only visits don’t fill up the composting bin and are not included in the 1,000-use estimate.
⚠️ Disclaimer: These estimates are based on typical, steady use. The actual number of solid uses a composting bin can handle may vary significantly depending on climate, temperature, humidity, ventilation, and how much dry bulking material (like wood shavings) is added after each use.
💧 Liquid waste (urine) estimate
Average person produces about:
0.4 gallons of urine per day (≈1.5 liters ≈ 1.6 quarts)
So for 100 people:
0.4 gallons × 100 = 40 gallons of urine per day
🚽 Flush water use estimate
Average flush volume in the U.S. is about:
1.5 gallons per flush
Average person flushes ~5 times per day, so:
1.5 gallons × 5 = 7.5 gallons/person/day
So for 100 people:
7.5 gallons × 100 = 750 gallons of flush water per day
Composting
Off-Grid
Indoors
Premium
Self-contained
Tiny House
ADU
Urine-diverting
Year-around
Luxurious
Cabins
RVs
Large capacity
Cold climate
Glamping
Outhouses
Batch toilets
Public use
Continuous
Toilet Pedestals
Accessories
