The CompostEra toilet is a waterless, long-term composting toilet that transforms human waste into nutrient-rich liquid compost using natural processes, with no odour and minimal maintenance.
FAQ
Toilet waste falls into a sealed compost tank under the unit. A ventilation fan removes odours and enables evaporation. The toilet waste is composted with compost worms over time to reduce in volume. An odourless compost liquid, which can be used to fertilise trees, bushes and lawns, is the only product from the CompostEra toilet. The compost liquid is collected in a compost liquid barrel and can be stored and used when convenient.
Yes, CompostEra toilets are designed for both seasonal and year-round properties, and they can function in high- or low-use situations.
As material in the compost tank continuously composts down over time, it decreases in volume. This means that the compost tank only needs to be emptied every 15–30 years, depending on use. When the composting tank is full and cannot receive any more toilet waste, the compost material and bed can be easily removed by a vacuum truck (up to the net around 20 cm from the base of the tank). Once emptied, a new peat/sawdust bed can be added to the tank along with worms to begin using the toilet again.
In theory, the composting tank can be disconnected from the chute and left to fully compost before being emptied by tipping it on its side. This would allow the finished compost to be used in your own garden. However, emptying by hand requires significant effort. A vacuum truck offers a far more convenient option, as it quickly empties the toilet without disconnecting the tank, allowing it to be back in use with a fresh bed right away.
Yes. As the top part of the CompostEra toilet receives the most wear and tear, it gets dirty over time. It can easily be lifted off and replaced by a new top part – feel free to contact us for a replacement toilet top. Depending on use, it can be beneficial to replace the top part of the toilet every 5-10 years. The toilet lid and seat can be replaced whenever just like with a conventional toilet. Remember to recycle any used parts.
Yes. Your CompostEra can come with either a slow-close plastic toilet seat and lid or a heavier, more durable composite toilet seat and lid. These can easily be replaced with a conventional toilet seat and lid of your choice as with a conventional toilet. A new CompostEra top can be delivered with holes drilled to a specific specification if required – or without holes if you wish to drill your own.
CompostEra is a waterless toilet, which means it uses no water for flushing. The only electricity it uses is for the 41-watt ventilation fan. The fan comes with a standard EU plug but it can be powered by an off-grid solar power system if preferred. If your system requires a submersible pump to transfer the compost liquid to a storage barrel, the pump will also need an electricity supply.
Yes, but it depends if the toilet is a year-round or seasonal system. Note that the exothermic process in the tank creates its own heat, which makes it resistant to freezing temperatures, although the composting process will take place slower in colder temperatures.
However, a year-round system should be protected from freezing by adding a layer of insulation around the tank (contact us for an easy and cost-effective solution) or by installing a small heater with a thermostat to prevent the space from freezing.
In a seasonal system that is not used in the winter, the compost tank can be left to freeze. Seasonal freezing can actually help to break down the compost pile.
You shouldn’t need to add new worms. Even if the compost pile freezes and your worms die, they will have most likely left eggs behind that hatch when the pile warms up again. But you can add new worms to your compost tank at any time if you like.
No. The toilet is completely odour-free thanks to the fan-assisted ventilation and sealed compost tank design.
A CompostEra toilet is designed so that nothing is visible in the toilet – only darkness. Our black/dark-coloured composting tanks and toilet chute ensure nothing is visible.
Any biological human waste can be deposited in the toilet along with toilet paper and even toilet roll tubes, which will all compost. Do not deposit non-compostable materials such as plastic in your CompostEra toilet and never use harmful chemicals that can disturb the composting process.
CompostEra systems require minimal maintenance. This includes:
- Levelling the compost pile occasionally
- Draining the compost liquid barrel
- Routine cleaning of the toilet’s inner liner
A year-round system produces about 30–50 litres per person annually, which is collected and stored and can be used to fertilise trees, bushes and lawns.
The toilet base, lid and seat can be cleaned as a normal toilet. A CompostEra toilet has no toilet bowl, but the inner black plastic liner can be cleaned with water or a mild cleaner so as not to disturb the compost process in the tank. No harsh chemicals are required.
Everything you need for your very own CompostEra toilet system! We can complement our standard package depending on your particular needs.
Read about what is included in the standard CompostEra package.
A small standard package (for 2-3 people or seasonal use) costs 38,000 SEK and a large standard package (for up to 5 people) 45,000 SEK. This is significantly less than a conventional septic/sedimentation tank. As conventional solutions typically require emptying every year, CompostEra toilets also have much lower operational costs.
Yes. Installation is straightforward – see our planning tips and installation instructions. Some DIY skills or assistance from a builder can be helpful.
Check with your local municipality if you need permission or not. As a CompostEra toilet is a closed system and does not discharge pollutants, it may not require permission. However, your municipality may like to check where and how you plan to use your composting liquid.
Don’t worry – CompostEra tanks have a built-in inspection hatch on the top. This can be used to retrieve anything from the tank.
If your ceiling height is limited underneath where you plan to install your toilet, you could consider either raising your toilet onto a platform in the bathroom and/or excavating the floor in your basement/lower level. You can use a submersible pump (not included in the standard CompostEra package) to transfer the compost liquid to the storage barrel if you don’t have the ceiling height to let the compost liquid drain into the barrel.
Consider either raising your toilet and/or excavating the floor in your basement/lower level. You will need at least 150cm to accommodate our 1,150-litre tank, submersible pump and a container to collect the compost liquid.
Alternatively, you could install a CompostEra toilet on the upper level of your property with the tank in a room/cupboard directly under the toilet on the ground floor.
CompostEra toilets have also been installed in properties on the ground floor by building a small extension in the bathroom with enough space for the toilet and building a small underground space directly under the toilet for the tank.
The nitrogen-rich compost liquid can be used for fertilising trees, bushes and lawns. The liquid typically contains around 2,000 mg/l of nitrogen (equivalent to 2 g of nitrogen per litre), which means it should be either used sparingly or diluted with water.
We recommend using the liquid between early spring and midsummer in northern Europe to ensure as much of the nutrients are absorbed by the plants as possible. As your compost liquid can still contain some bacteria, we recommend not using it in vegetable gardens where you plan to harvest edible crops the same year. Additionally, the liquid should not be used near watercourses due to the risk of eutrophication and/or nutrient leakage into nearby lakes and rivers.
Tests in recent decades have shown that the compost liquid from CompostEra systems contains very low traces of Escherichia coli (E.coli) and Intestinal Enterococci (IE) – with nothing detected in many systems. The liquid can contain traces of other bacteria that are not considered harmful and will break down in the soil.
Yes. As CompostEra is a closed system, it doesn’t discharge any pollutants into the environment. In this way, it meets the highest environmental standards and is ideal for locations where pollution prevention is critical.
It depends on whether the medication contains natural biological molecules that compost, or synthetic materials that don’t. For example, estrogenic hormones and antibiotics will compost, and even synthetic ingredients break down over time. While it is possible for traces of synthetic materials to be present in the compost liquid, they are likely to be in such small concentrations that they will not cause harm to plants.