Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Composting Toilets: Eco-Friendly, If You're Willing To Get Your Hands Dirty

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Recently at the Green Living Show, I stumbled upon the Sun-Mar Composting Toilet booth, which was completely devoid of customers. The representatives from Sun-Mar seemed somewhat bored, leaning against the toilet-models on the showroom floor in an effort to stay awake. In conversation with them, they expressed how people generally find the idea of a composting toilet “icky” and were too embarrassed to even contemplate the idea. But in doing a little research, it looks like a composting toilet may in fact be a sustainable, greener, cleaner, and even cheaper solution to water pollution and conservation. So why are people turning up their noses?

Sun-Mar claims that their composting toilet uses no water and isn’t attached to any septic tank. Instead, waste is evaporated, and the remaining “nutrients” collect in a bottom “finishing drawer” that’s odorless and can be easily removed without, you know, having to touch the stuff. The model toilets themselves are apparently compact in design and can be installed anywhere, even a tree house.

The green eco-nutter in me loves this idea. The idea of not polluting any more ground water, lakes or oceans (in addition to saving hundreds of dollars on my water bill each month) not only appeals to my better nature, but to my bottom line.

However, the following composting-toilet video provided by Sun-Mar offends my gag reflex and my standards on fromage-free commercials. We’re shown visually what the full “finishing drawer” looks like upon removal, which as you can imagine, is less than appealing. I mean, c’mon dudes, I don’t want my hands anywhere near a months-worth of my family’s “stuff” and neither does anyone else.

In addition, they hilariously describe their toilets as “elegant.” Even if it were encrusted with Swarovski diamonds, nothing can make a toilet “elegant.” Nothing remotely associated with toilets will ever be “elegant.”

When it comes to new and innovative ideas in, er, what shall I call this . . . ‘waste removal,” consumers at large are going to need a better sell than what Sun-Mar has to offer. This is a great idea that’s being presented to us on the lid of a toilet. No wonder the consumers are staying away.

(Video: Sun-Mar)

Post from: BlissTree

Composting Toilets: Eco-Friendly, If You're Willing To Get Your Hands Dirty

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