Composting Toilets

Featured on Arizona Illustrated: Waste Not, a new recycling trend in composting toilets puts human waste to work.

So You Think You Want a Composting Toilet?

Did you know traditional toilets are the biggest source of indoor water use? Replace your traditional toilet with a waterless composting toilet and save thousands of gallons of water a year, while producing a safe, nutrient-rich fertilizer at home. Composting toilets are also an alternative to installing a costly septic system at a new home.

Research Permitting

Research permitting regulations for composting toilets in your county. If you are in Pima County, you will find a link to our detailed permitting guide below.

Determine Capacity

Decide on what composting toilet system fits your needs. Our 2-barrel and 3-barrel models have high capacity and have been approved by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

Location, Location, Location

Plan where to put your compost toilet so it’s private, convenient, and comfortable to visit throughout the year.

Learn about the benefits of a composting toilet and how a masonry, double chamber composting toilet works from WMG Policy and Technical Director, Catlow Shipek. This video highlights the system at WMG's Living Lab and Learning Center.

Learn how to build a composting toilet system. The system is based on a 55-gal barrel system developed by David Omick. You can purchase a 2-barrel and 3-barrel kit from WMG! 

Composting Toilet Kits

If you would prefer to order a kit rather than build your own, we have kits available for local pickup. Please note: These systems are listed on Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's (ADEQ) approved composting toilet list. If you reside in Pima County, a typical permit will cost $575. If you live in a county that delegates authority back to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), your permit may cost up to $1,000.

Learn how to maintain a site-built composting toilet to ensure proper function and aid the composting process. Catlow Shipek, WMG’s Policy and Technical Director, shares routine maintenance practices for his home system.

We hope you're just as excited about Composting Toilet maintenance as Catlow is! In this video, he'll show you what to do when one of your barrels is full so you can keep on composting.

ADEQ Design Approval

On December 28, 2016, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) approved for permitting the construction and use of two site-built designs piloted by Watershed Management Group through a two-year process with 22 participating sites. The Proprietary Treatment Product Listing for the two designs now expands the range of composting toilet options available to Arizonans. The two batch-style composting toilet system designs are 1) a 55-gallon barrel system and 2) a masonry chamber system. The document provided here includes sizing information, technical details, and operations and maintenance of both systems.

Poo to Peaches!

From peaches to poo... and back again! This first-of-its-kind book teaches children about composting toilets and the nutrient cycle. Poo to Peaches also includes technical information pages for adults with details on composting toilet use and maintenance. Written by WMG staff and volunteers, this book was funded through a Kickstarter campaign supported by over 150 backers from around the world.