Public Toilets Off the Grid: Case Study of Helsinki Outhouses
When it comes to public use toilets, waterless options are often overlooked. Typically, public toilets require high standards of accessibility, durability, and ease of maintenance. Unfortunately, waterless toilets are frequently misunderstood and underestimated.
However, in this article, we will demonstrate how waterless toilets, particularly composting toilets, offer an excellent solution for all off-grid locations such as nature trails, public parks, conservation areas, and golf courses. These systems not only meet but often exceed the requirements for public sanitation facilities, while also providing significant cost savings and environmental benefits.
Key elements of public use composting toilets
Odorless user experience
Nobody wants a smelly toilet. Therefore, it is crucial to separate the liquids from the solid waste within the composting toilet. In addition, the composting toilet should have proper ventilation from the composting unit.
Scalable capacity
It is not uncommon to see a public toilet temporarily out of service. To address this, we recommend implementing a batch composting toilet system with scalable capacity. Such systems allow for the quick replacement of full composting units with empty ones, ensuring the facility remains operational at all times.
Thoughtful waste management Don’t forget to plan what happens to the liquids and solid waste after they are collected and composted. Public toilets with under 100 daily toilet users can usually recycle the waste on the site. If there are thousands or more users, then it may be worth to consider a central composting area to treat the toilet waste.
Attention to detail
The comfort and convenience of users are paramount. Details like ample space inside the toilet for family use, including diaper changes, as well as practical features such as hooks for bags or jackets, are important. Essentials such as hand sanitizers, toilet paper, trash bins, and visible contact information should always be readily available to enhance user experience.
Case: Helsinki Outhouses
This case study focuses on public, off-the-grid toilets located in the capital of Finland. The toilets are called Helsinki Outhouses. They are a group of composting public toilets built around the city of Helsinki. Helsinki Outhouses are a prime example of public waterless sanitation solutions.
Background
The Helsinki Outhouses are located in various public parks and alongside popular nature trails at the city of Helsinki. The closest one is just few miles from the city centre in the old town of Helsinki. Designed with an architectural aesthetic that blends with the natural environment, these outhouses utilize Green Toilet 330 composting systems, renowned for their odorless use experience and ease of maintenance.
Facility Overview
Each outhouse features traditional flat seating, which is a common design in traditional outhouses but updated here with modern materials and clean lines to ensure durability and pleasant use. The remarkable feature of these facilities is their ability to remain completely odorless despite high usage, which ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 visitors per month.
Composting System
The Helsinki Outhouses employ a robust composting system that is based on batch composting principle. This system uses multiple Green Toilet 330 containers that are rotated on a 4-8 week cycle, depending on usage rates. When a container fills up, it is removed and replaced with an empty one, while the full container is set aside to continue the composting process. This method not only effectively manages waste but also preserves the valuable nutrients, as the composted material is eventually used for landscaping and other environmental enhancement projects.
Conclusion
The Helsinki Outhouses represent a successful integration of functionality, aesthetic design, and environmental stewardship in a public off grid toilets. By employing advanced composting toilet technology, these facilities manage to provide essential services for locals and tourists while maintaining a commitment to sustainability. Such models offer valuable insights for other cities and locations looking to implement waterless toilet solutions in public sanitation, proving that practical implementation of sustainable technologies can achieve significant environmental and social benefits. This case not only highlights the technical aspects but also the scalable potential of composting toilet systems in public spaces, setting a benchmark for future developments in off-grid sanitation facilities.
Partner with us for sustainable waterless sanitation solutions
If you’re considering the implementation of off-grid, environmentally-friendly toilet solutions in your area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our expertise in deploying waterless composting toilets ensures that your project will not only meet but exceed expectations in sustainability and user satisfaction. Whether you manage a nature trail, a public park, a conservation area, or any location without traditional infrastructure, our systems provide a clean, odorless, and efficient solution that respects both the environment and the needs of the public.
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✉ info@waterlesstoiletshop.com
Contact us today to learn more about how our innovative sanitation solutions can transform public spaces and contribute to a greener future. Let’s work together to make accessible, sustainable sanitation a reality for everyone.
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Please leave us a message or email and we will get back to you as soon as we’re back. Thank you for your patience and have a wonderful holiday!
Waterless Toilet Shop – Black Friday & Cyber Monday Campaign Terms and Conditions
Campaign Period
This Black Friday & Cyber Monday promotion (“Campaign”) runs from November 17, 2025 through December 1, 2025 (Cyber Monday). All qualifying orders must be placed during this period. No retroactive discounts will be applied to orders placed before or after the Campaign Period.
Eligibility
The offers are valid only for purchases made on waterlesstoiletshop.com or through direct communication with Waterless Toilet Shop during the Campaign Period. Discounts apply to new orders only.
Campaign Offers
The following products include fixed discounts during the Campaign Period:
$100 OFF all Green Toilet Lux composting toilet packages
$100 OFF CF 4 composting toilet systems
$100 OFF Oz-e-Pod composting toilets
$1000 OFF Rota Loo 650 composting toilets
All other products: price reductions may be available. Customers must request a quote during the Campaign Period to receive the best possible offer.
Discounts are automatically applied to listed sale prices or will be reflected in quoted pricing (as applicable).
Limitations
Discounts cannot be combined with any other promotions, coupons, or discount codes unless explicitly stated.
Discounted pricing applies per product, not per order.
Limited inventory: discounts apply only while stock remains available. Some products may have extended lead times.
Shipping costs are not discounted unless otherwise stated.
Request-A-Quote Items
Products requiring a custom quotation must be requested during the Campaign Period. Quotes provided as part of the Campaign will remain valid for 7 days unless otherwise specified.
Payment & Order Completion
To secure the campaign pricing, full payment or an agreed deposit must be received within the quote validity period. Waterless Toilet Shop reserves the right to void quotes not paid within the specified timeframe.
Cancellations & Returns
Standard return and cancellation policies apply. The campaign discount is non-refundable and will not be “reapplied” to replacement orders outside the Campaign Period.
General
Waterless Toilet Shop reserves the right to:
modify or withdraw this Campaign at any time,
correct pricing errors,
limit quantities per customer,
decline requests that do not meet eligibility criteria.
By placing an order during the Campaign Period, customers agree to these Terms and Conditions.
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Thank you for your understanding.
Pay with Klarna
We’re excited to now offer Klarna as a payment option at Waterless Toilet Shop!
Choose how you want to pay — all at once or with flexible installments that fit your budget.
💸 Pay in 4 — Interest-Free
Split your composting toilet purchase into four equal payments every two weeks.
No interest, no hidden fees — just a smarter way to pay over time.
Other Flexible Options
Klarna also offers monthly financing with 6–24-month plans and transparent APR rates based on your credit.
You’ll see all available payment options instantly when you select Klarna at checkout.
Klarna financing is issued by WebBank and available to eligible U.S. residents in most states.
Missed payments may incur late fees. For California residents, loans are made or arranged pursuant to a California Financing Law license. Review Klarna’s terms.
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.
🚚 $100 OFF Shipping Cost – Green Toilet 330 Composting Toilets
No promo codes, no extra steps – the discount is automatically applied at checkout.
If you experience any technical issue and the discount does not apply automatically, you can manually enter
the coupon code 100OFFSHIPPING during checkout to receive the offer.
The Green Toilet 330 and Green Toilet Lux 330 are ideal for cabins, cottages, off-grid homes, and other locations where
reliable, low-maintenance, and environmentally friendly waste management is a priority. Their batch composting design
makes servicing simple and hygienic, with a spare container included to keep the system running without interruption.
Campaign details:
Offer valid until August 31, 2025 or while stock lasts
Discount applies only to Green Toilet 330 and Green Toilet Lux 330 composting toilet orders
Automatically applied at checkout – or use coupon code 100OFFSHIPPING if needed
Applies to orders shipped within the Lower 48 states only
Upgrade your off-grid toilet system now and save on shipping while supplies last.
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
Split-systems
Self-contained
Tiny House
Urine-diverting
Year-around
Luxurious
Cabins
RVs
Large capacity
Cold climate
Glamping
Outhouses
Batch toilets
Public use
Continuous
Accessories
