Thinking of buying a composting toilet for your RV, but worried about the Pros and Cons of an RV Composting Toilet? Or maybe you are still considering whether a composting toilet is the one you want to buy.
This article will provide you with everything you need to know about a composting toilet, from what it is, where to use it, to why to use it.
Composting Toilet!! What is that?
With the emphasis of the world currently on the environment, this is the time for you to replace your old traditional toilet with a new portable composting toilet. It separates the solid and liquid wastes coming in and decompose them through microorganisms.
The decomposed matter or the compost can be then used as a fertilizer or can be dumped into the ground and it will breakdown easily and mix with the soil.
Composting Toilets in RV
RVs are like a second home for those who have it. It is a combination of kitchen, bedroom, drawing room, and bathroom inside one vehicle. Just like it sounds, the RVs have very limited space and this space needs to be optimized for everything to fit.
One thing that can optimize the space for a bathroom is the portable composting toilet. They take up significantly less space than a regular toilet that has to assign a place for its septic tank.
Not only in terms of space, but there are also other perks for which a portable composting toilet should in your RV. Let’s look at some of them.
Features Of Composting Toilets
The composting toilet is a must-have addition to your RV because:
1.It is odorless: It is a common belief that composting toilets smell a lot or that because there is no water the wastes don’t get cleared away. But that is not the case. Portable composting toilets produce no foul smell and they are very clean.
2.It is light in weight: Whereas traditional toilets are heavier with all the attachments and the setup, composting toilets are relatively light in weight with simple design and construction. A composting toilet weighs around 24-30 pounds.
3.It won’t get clogged: Since there is no flushing involved, you don’t have to worry about clogging. Also, since there is no plumbing action, no pipes are involved, so you don’t need to worry about cleaning them.
4.It doesn’t make noise: With no water involved, it is very silent as the flushing and splashing noise of the water isn’t there anymore.
Pros and Cons Of An RV Composting Toilet
So far, we have seen that a composting toilet will be a great addition to your RV but for a deeper understanding of whether a composting toilet is the one for you, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of a composting toilet.
Pros of RV Composting Toilet:

1. Environment friendly
First and foremost, the best thing about a composting toilet is that it is eco-friendly. The human waste is acted upon by bacteria or fungi to produce compost. This compost can be used as fertilizer in gardens or farms. Even if they are released into the environment, they easily mix with the soil.
So, considering the positive effect on the environment, a composting toilet should replace traditional toilets, not only in RVs but also in households or any other place.
2. Plumbing is not necessary
The composting toilets do not require water for flushing or carrying the waste to the septic tank. Since there is no water required, there is also no need for plumbing.
Hence, there is no risk of clogging or attending to the cleanliness of any sort of pipe.
3. Convenience
A composting toilet can be used for 4 to n6 weeks before needing to clear the compost. So it is great for long trips.
Also, you don’t want to dump in the woods or worry about someone catching you peeing. So, it is better to keep a composting toilet in your RV.
4. Cheap for the long run
Composting toilets are affordable and easily available in the market. You don’t have to worry about installing the plumbing system. The toilet in itself may be costlier than a traditional toilet but there is no additional cost to the setup of a composting toilet.
Since composting toilets are waterless, the long-term cost of water is saved by using a composting toilet.
5. Space saving
As we have seen before, a composting toilet saves a lot of space for you in an RV. On that space where you might have installed a septic tank, you can now install a TV or a cupboard.
As an owner of an RV, you must know that this is a very important thing. The key to an effective RV is the management of space. So, a composting toilet ticks the box in this category.
Cons Of RV Composting Toilet:

1. Practicality
It seems from the reader’s point of view that a composting toilet is a very practical way of addressing the environment and cutting the cost of toilets, but the truth is we live in a world where this is still an alternative and not a mainstream.
There are a large number of states here in the United States where a composting toilet can pose a challenge to environmental codes and so are not permitted to be used in those areas.
2. Installation may take time
Although a simple composting toilet is very easy to set up, a little complex and a good composting toilet may require some time and effort to set up.
3. Electricity may be required
The composting toilet has a ventilation fan that is necessary to remove the evaporated liquid and also speed up the process of composting.
Usually, 12 V is enough but since the fan is to be kept on for the whole day, it is better if the RV has an electricals system in it.
What do you think?
So, we have shown you both sides of the coin of a composting toilet, where they can be used and where they can’t. If yes, why they can be used, and if no, why can’t they be used?
What did you decide after going through all the pros and cons of a composting toilet? We are sure you have made up your mind on whether to buy a composting toilet or not.
If you have decided to buy one, you can find the best portable composting toilets here.
Also, let us know in the comments if you think there are some other pros and cons of an RV Composting toilet.
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