| In part I of this 2-part series, I talked about the | | | | The biological toilet, or biolet adds a small amount of |
| reason why there was a recent surge of interest on | | | | water to the waste, which is then slowly passed |
| the part of toilet manufacturers in producing so-called | | | | through a bacteria-containing substance. This |
| "eco toilets". Basically, this was sparked by a 1992 | | | | decomposes the waste matter into non-toxic |
| law that stated that a toilet was required to use less | | | | substances. At the present time, this type of toilet is |
| than 1.6 gallons of water for flushing. | | | | quite expensive, so it is not very widely used in the |
| In the first article, I gave a brief explanation of some | | | | United States. |
| of the types of eco toilets that were introduced in | | | | Squat toilets, just as the name suggests, require the |
| response to the law. The toilets mentioned were only | | | | user to squat over a hole in the floor. A small amount |
| the varieties that still use water for flushing. | | | | of water is used to flush the waste out of the hole, |
| However, there are more radical toilet designs that | | | | using a siphoning effect. This kind of toilet is quite |
| use little or no water at all. | | | | common in third-world countries, and is actually quite |
| A compost toilet compacts and dehydrates solid | | | | sanitary, since no part of your body actually touches |
| waste, and turns it into compost. This can safely be | | | | the toilet itself. |
| used as a fertilizer for home gardens. | | | | Although you may be somewhat repelled by some of |
| The urine-separating toilet is a modification of the | | | | the features of these waterless toilets, they have |
| compost toilet which separates liquid and solid waste. | | | | been thoroughly tested, and pose no threat to either |
| This allows the urine, which is rich in nutrients, to be | | | | the user of the machine, or the user of the resulting |
| used directly as fertilizer. | | | | products. Hopefully, the cost of some of these new |
| An incinerating toilet allows all waste material to drop | | | | eco toilets will go down, as they come into greater |
| into a holding tank, where is it burned up immediately. | | | | use. |
| ( There are safeguards to ensure that the incinerator | | | | For lots more information on these and other green |
| does not cause any personal injury. ) This process, | | | | toilets, please check out the author's website, shown |
| however, renders the residue useless as a fertilizer. | | | | in the next paragraph. |