| As our nation faces water shortages and water | | | | home, you may also need to discuss the importance |
| crises in heavily populated areas like California, | | | | of not putting things like wet wipes, tampons, or |
| composting toilets continue to gain popularity as a | | | | sanitary pads into the toilet. The only things that |
| water-saving alternative to traditional toilets. Their | | | | should go in a composting toilet are waste and toilet |
| growing usage, however, leads many families and | | | | paper. Everything else belongs in the garbage can. |
| homeowners to wonder, are they a good solution for | | | | The amount of toilet paper used may also be |
| my home? Particularly for families with children, there | | | | another conversation to have with kids, though this |
| are some special considerations to take into account. | | | | isn't a topic just for homes with composting toilets. |
| The needs of families with children will vary, | | | | Many parents have had to use a plunger to unclog a |
| depending on the ages of the kids in the home. If | | | | traditional toilet when a child has used half the roll of |
| you have young children, for example, potty training | | | | toilet paper and tried to flush. With a compost toilet, |
| may be a consideration. First, you'll want to evaluate | | | | the issue isn't that it won't flush, but rather that using |
| the seat height of the toilet. Many composting toilets, | | | | too much paper will affect the capacity of the unit |
| specifically self-contained units, feature very tall seat | | | | itself. Capacities of composting toilets are typically |
| heights. Some even have built-in stools or footrests, | | | | based on the number of people using the fixture |
| making it easier for an adult to step up to the seat. | | | | each day. If someone is adding a huge amount of |
| For a child, this would obviously create a problem in | | | | toilet paper, this will of course have an impact. |
| getting to the toilet on their own. | | | | Last but not least, homeowners with composting |
| Young children are notorious for wanting to flush | | | | toilet systems should take the time to explain to |
| various objects down the toilet-any parent who's | | | | their kids about the regular maintenance of the unit. |
| ever fished a watch or rubber ducky or other item | | | | Usually this involves adding some bulking material, |
| out of their toilet bowl is well aware of this. With a | | | | such as a peat moss/wood chip mixture, each day |
| composting toilet, reaching the lost object may not | | | | and turning a crank on the outside of the toilet, |
| be so simple. One of the biggest pros to modern | | | | which in turn rotates the inner drum. Once children |
| composting toilets is that they're designed in such a | | | | are old enough, get them involved in these daily |
| way that the homeowner does not have to come | | | | activities. The more they know about the system, |
| into contact with the waste until it is fully composted. | | | | the less likely they are to do something that might |
| However, if you think your child has dropped | | | | potentially harm it. |
| something down into the toilet, you may find | | | | Composting toilets are a wonderful alternative to |
| yourself donning some gloves and sifting through | | | | traditional toilets, and they can be used virtually |
| waste to get at the lost item. Thus, it's important | | | | anywhere. For families with children, they are still a |
| that parents of young children take the time to | | | | very viable alternative to traditional toilets, provided |
| impress upon their kids the importance of not putting | | | | that parents explain to and educate their kids about |
| any foreign objects in the toilet. Another easy | | | | the toilet. Plus, by introducing your kids to an eco |
| alternative is to install a child-proof toilet seat and lid, | | | | friendly fixture like a composting toilet while they are |
| so that children cannot lift up the lid without your | | | | young, you'll be making a positive impact on their |
| assistance. | | | | lifelong tendency toward a green lifestyle. |
| If you have older adolescents to young teens in your | | | | |