According to Wikipedia, a composting toilet can be defined as “a system that converts human waste into a fertilizer or useable soil through the natural breakdown of organic matter back into its essential minerals”. In essence, a toilet that doesn’t just flush human waste into unseen receptacles, pipe systems and underground reservoirs—a toilet that serves as the link between humans, what they eat, and where it all goes.

Western toilet etiquette has been predicated on the opposite assumption—that human waste should be unseen, unheard and hidden away. Composting toilets, therefore, can make some people a little squeamish. (Probably the same people who balk at cleaning out their cat’s litter box or scooping their dog’s poop from sidewalks.) By putting a composting toilet in a house, office or cabin, North Americans are finally recognizing the truth contained within the age-old adage. Sh** really does happen. And it’s not the end of the world to deal with it in a natural, earth-friendly way, rather than with an antiquated sense of propriety.

Composting toilets can be divided into two basic categories: those that store the waste for later disposal, and those that ship it to another spot where it can be composted.

The most common of the first type is similar to toilets found in recreational vehicles, though the harsh chemical and sanitation dumps are taken out of the process and the toilets are much larger than the average flush system as the toilet has a large storage systems inside of itself that uses mesophilic composting to break down the humanure. After a specified period of time, the humanure can be emptied from the toilet’s tank and used in the same way that cow or horse manure is used on gardens. The University of British Columbia’s newest wing, the C.K. Choi building was built with five composting toilets (10 seats).

Another variation on the theme of storage toilets is the incinerating toilet, which burns waste. This model hasn’t reached wide usage, however, as complicated ventilation systems are needed and the units often have a strong smell.

The second category of toilets is often chosen for homes and offices as they take up the same amount of room as a traditional toilet. An off-site storage systems appeals to people who still feel a bit uneasy about sharing their bathroom space with their friend’s and family’s waste products. These systems work on a similar principle as the traditional septic system, using the mesopholic composting system to break down the waste stored in a tank or storage unit, often buried underground and emptied on a set schedule.

Composting toilets are being used in a variety of different locations and for a variety of different motivations. People living in drought-common areas are beginning to employ the technology to ensure that they will have working waste systems all year round. Others are choosing to reduce the amount of water brought into their home to conserve the precious resource.