Swapping out the flush: living with a composting toilet

One thing I didn’t expect: the compost actually looks like regular dirt after a while. Still not sure if I’m ready to use it on my veggie garden though… maybe that’s just me being squeamish?

I get where you’re coming from on the veggie garden thing. Even after seeing that “dirt,” it’s hard to shake the mental block, right? I’ve got composting toilets in a couple of my rentals, and honestly, most folks are surprised by how little they miss the old flush. Maintenance is way less of a hassle than people expect. As for using the compost, I stick to ornamentals and trees - just feels safer, even if it’s probably fine. Water bill savings are no joke though.

Honestly, I had the same hesitation at first. Even though the compost looks and smells like regular soil, there’s just something about knowing where it came from that makes me pause before putting it on anything edible. I’ve read that with proper temps and time, it’s supposed to be safe, but I still stick to using it for shrubs and flowers. Has anyone here actually used their compost on veggies and noticed any difference in growth or taste? Just curious if I’m overthinking it...

there’s just something about knowing where it came from that makes me pause before putting it on anything edible

I get that feeling, but I’ve actually seen a few folks run into issues when they weren’t careful enough with composting temps and timing. One guy I know ended up with tomatoes that looked fine but just didn’t taste right - maybe it was in his head, but still. Personally, I’d rather play it safe and keep that compost for the ornamentals. Just not worth the risk if you ask me.

I hear you on the “knowing where it came from” thing. I keep joking with my partner that our flowers are thriving on poop power, but I’m still not brave enough to try it on the tomatoes. Maybe one day, but for now, the roses can have all the glory. Honestly, I don’t really miss flushing - except when guests come over and look at me like I’ve lost my mind.

I get the hesitation with using compost on edibles - there’s a lot of debate about safety, especially if the composting process isn’t spot-on. Personally, I’d probably hold off on the tomatoes too unless I was 100% sure everything broke down properly. As for guests, yeah, it’s always interesting watching people try to figure out how to use a composting toilet for the first time. Some are curious, others just look baffled. Guess it’s not for everyone, but honestly, I think it’s a pretty solid system once you get used to it.

Yeah, the first time my brother-in-law tried to use ours, I heard him muttering through the door, “Where’s the flush?!” Had to walk him through it like a bomb squad on the phone. It’s a learning curve for sure, but honestly, I’ll take a bit of awkwardness over plumbing nightmares any day. As for the compost, I’m with you - no way am I risking my BLT for science. I’ll stick to using it on the ornamentals until I’m totally confident everything’s broken down right.

Had a similar situation with one of my tenants - she called me in a panic because she thought the composting toilet was broken. Turns out, she just didn’t realize there wasn’t a flush lever. Once folks get used to it, though, most seem to prefer it over dealing with old pipes and leaks. I’m still on the fence about using the compost for veggies, too. Anyone actually made the leap and used it on edibles? Curious if it’s worth the risk or just not worth the headache.

I’m still on the fence about using the compost for veggies, too. Anyone actually made the leap and used it on edibles? Curious if it’s worth the risk or just not worth the headache.

Honestly, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable using the compost on anything I’m going to eat. I know people say it’s safe if you do it right, but there’s just something about it that makes me hesitate. Maybe it’s just me being squeamish, but I’d rather stick to using it for flowers or trees.

Also, not everyone in my house is on board with the whole composting toilet thing yet. The “no flush” part still throws people off, and I’ve had to explain it more than once. I get the appeal of avoiding plumbing issues, but I’m not convinced it’s less of a headache overall. Maybe it just takes more time to get used to than I thought.

The “no flush” part still throws people off, and I’ve had to explain it more than once.

That’s been my experience too. I thought everyone would just get on board, but nope - my partner still calls it “the bucket.” As for using the compost on veggies, I get the hesitation. I tried it once with tomatoes after two years of aging, and honestly, they were fine, but the mental block is real. Ended up just sticking to ornamentals after that. It’s not less work than a regular toilet, just a different kind of hassle.

Honestly, I still get tripped up explaining the “no flush” thing to guests. It’s like, you’d think the handle missing would be a clue, but nope. As for compost on veggies, I’ve read all the safety guides, but my brain just can’t get past it either. I stick to flowers and shrubs - less stress that way. The maintenance is its own beast, though... not harder, just different.

The bit I’d pin down first is what the toilet’s manual says about material after it leaves the chamber. Does it need further treatment or storage, and what disposal route is allowed locally? Looking like soil isn’t enough to decide it belongs in a vegetable bed.

I’d also include any liquid output in that plan. Some systems collect or discharge it separately, so sorting out the solids is only part of the job. Which toilet model is this, and what do its instructions say to do with the liquid?

For a cabin, the periods when nobody’s there seem worth checking too. The manufacturer should spell out the operating conditions and any steps needed before leaving the unit unused. I wouldn’t judge how well it’s processing waste just by how slowly the chamber fills up.

The maintenance side would matter to me as much as the day-to-day use. If a unit has a fan, seals or a mixing mechanism, I’d want to know which parts can be inspected and replaced, and how easy they are to obtain. “Maintenance-free” on a sales page wouldn’t answer those questions.

Honestly, I’m right there with you on the gadget skepticism. I’ve had “maintenance-free” gear turn into a headache more than once - especially when moving parts meet real-world grime. I’d rather deal with a clunky manual crank I can actually fix than some sealed-up mechanism that’s anyone’s guess inside.

On the compost for veggies, I know the research says it’s fine if you do it right, but there’s still that nagging doubt for me too. Maybe it’s just years of being told “better safe than sorry,” but I stick to using it for trees and shrubs. Salad greens? Not worth the worry, at least in my book.

On the vegetable-garden point, “fine if you do it right” needs a specific process behind it. Normal appearance, no smell or a crop that tastes fine won’t establish pathogen control. I’d follow the system’s treatment instructions and the local health authority’s disposal guidance before using the material anywhere in the garden, including around trees.

I get what you’re saying about the sealed systems, but man, I’ve had my share of headaches with those “maintenance-free” units. One bad seal and suddenly you’re on a first-name basis with every weird smell imaginable.

With my luck, if something’s gonna go wrong, it’ll be at 2am in January.

As for compost on veggies, I’m still not brave enough to go full circle - my tomatoes get the store-bought stuff. Maybe one day when I trust my pile more than my dog’s judgment...

One bad seal and suddenly you’re on a first-name basis with every weird smell imaginable.

Man, you nailed it with that one. “Maintenance-free” is just code for “it’ll wait until you’re half asleep and then hit you with a surprise.” I’ve had a composting unit that was supposed to be all sealed up, but the vent fan quit in the middle of winter and I swear the whole house smelled like a barn for a week. Nothing like trying to troubleshoot a fan motor at 3am in your pajamas.

I get what you mean about trusting the pile, too. My neighbor’s all in - he’s out there every weekend with his thermometer and pitchfork, looking like he’s brewing some secret potion. Meanwhile, I’m still side-eyeing my compost heap like it might bite me if I turn my back. Tomatoes are precious cargo; I’m not risking them on something my dog thinks is a snack bar.

Honestly, though, once you get a rhythm with the cleaning and keep an eye on the seals (and maybe invest in a backup vent fan), those composting toilets aren’t as scary as they seem. Still, I keep a stash of air fresheners just in case... can’t be too careful.

Funny thing - my uncle swears by his system, but he also swears at it at least once a month. Guess that’s just part of the charm.

I hear you on the “maintenance-free” label - definitely not my experience either. I learned the hard way to check seals and fans every month, even if it feels like overkill. One thing that’s helped me is keeping a little checklist taped inside the bathroom cabinet: seals, vent fan, compost level, and a quick sniff test (not glamorous, but necessary).

I’m curious - has anyone found a reliable way to tell when a seal’s about to go bad before it actually fails? I’ve tried looking for cracks or dryness, but sometimes they just seem to give out with no warning.