Envirolet Eco-Friendly Toilets Compost Human Waste

The Huffington Post  |  By Posted: 04/20/2012 1:46 pm

With Earth Day, on April 22, just around the corner, companies are scrambling to release their most environmentally-friendly products. In the race to convert our most basic processes to greener ones, one Canadian small business is ahead of the curve. Introducing the Envirolet toilet.

Sancor Industries, which manufactures the Envirolet series of green toilets, just made composting human waste a lot more glamorous. Ahead of Earth Day, the company has released the new FlushSmart 800 series, which flushes further and composts quicker with a smaller footprint than competitors. The 25-person firm has been an industry leader in eco-friendly commodes for 35 years, but its sleek designs far surpass the old bucket and sawdust designs that come to be expected when talking about human waste composting.

The unsuspecting 800 series design looks just like your average porcelain throne, with a substantially sized seat and clean finish, but what you don't see is what makes Envirolet's design unique.

"Envirolet FlushSmart features conventional-looking ceramic toilets that flush with a tiny 0.2L of water per flush," co-owner Scott Smith said. Unlike most toilets, there is no gravity required to sufficiently pump waste up to 70 feet away or 12 feet up to a separate compositor thanks to an advanced vacuum system. The system pumps waste to a patented composting unit that uses advanced aeration techniques to allow for better processing speeds and more capacity. And as most composting toilets promise, no foul smell. Owners can empty the composter one to two times a year for their very own nutrient-rich "humanure," as its known in the industry.

While the line of Envirolet products can run you anywhere from $4,000 to over $6,000, the company ensures that their toilets will quickly become the best seat in the house.

Vf700around
FOLLOW SMALL BUSINESS

With Earth Day, on April 22, just around the corner, companies are scrambling to release their most environmentally-friendly products. In the race to convert our most basic processes to greener ones, ...
With Earth Day, on April 22, just around the corner, companies are scrambling to release their most environmentally-friendly products. In the race to convert our most basic processes to greener ones, ...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 56
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Post Comment Preview Comment
To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)
04:00 PM on 04/22/2012
OK. I've got compost. Now, what the hell do I do with it?
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Matayo
08:08 AM on 04/23/2012
grow vegetables or sell the compost to someone who already does!
09:50 AM on 04/22/2012
I'd welcome it if the article had specified whether that "humanure" has undergone some rigorous testing to confirm that it is safe to use.

It's very old news that human "night soil" can be composted, or can be used a manure. It's also old news that the practice is a great way of ensuring that everyone has hepatitis A and countless other infectious and parasitic diseases.

Some sustained high temperatures that kill off pathogens can make "humanure" safe for use in agriculture and gardening, but the stuff still needs to be tested repeatedly to prove the technology being used is reliable.
06:12 AM on 04/22/2012
An appliance that'll compost electronic waste might be worthy of a Save the Planet headline.
Genders
Love, Tolerance, Enlightenment
02:54 AM on 04/22/2012
It might be ok for the first world, but the third world suffers from many parasites and diseases that composting will not remove. This toilet will also emit methane.

Bio char is the better answer, and it creates fuel, heat, and sterile fertilizer.
09:51 AM on 04/22/2012
Some sustained high temperatures that kill off pathogens can make "humanure" safe for use in agriculture and gardening, but the stuff still needs to be tested repeatedly to prove the technology being used is reliable.
Genders
Love, Tolerance, Enlightenment
03:35 PM on 04/22/2012
That's why bio char is better. You heat the entire load till it turns for charcoal. No pathogen survives that.

http://buildaroo.com/news/article/biofuel-from-human-waste-project-england/ 15% energy needs!
http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/10/04/idINIndia-51941620101004

Several other high temp processes are very safe. Human and animal poo is too dangerous and normal composting produces a massive methane.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jchowell3657
The Constitution's purpose is to limit government
09:24 PM on 04/21/2012
Can that toilet save the planet? NO. Next question?
06:12 PM on 04/21/2012
BUENO, YO NO LO CREO, PORQUE EL PLANETA TIENE MAS ,MIER..A.QUE LA QUE CABE AHI, MUY BUENA PREGUNTA ESA, PERO TRATEMOS A VER SI DENTRO DE 1000.00, AÑOS, LO LOGRAREMOS,JAJAJAJAJ
05:25 PM on 04/21/2012
Rainbow eco like the idea.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Querent
I say the things that have to be said.
05:18 PM on 04/21/2012
Who wrote this? Why is Huffington Post hiring people to write for them who can't handle ordinary English syntax?
03:59 PM on 04/22/2012
Like you, for instance?
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dieter Zerressen
Ain't nobody got time fo dat.
05:03 PM on 04/21/2012
Why are the comments always so black and white? No this toilet is not for everywhere especially big cities but in rural areas, on building lots where the ground won't perc, in 3rd world countries, desert areas with no water, sure why not. Its like that whole discussion around oil versus renewables. Hey, folks, we can, and probably should have a mix of technologies. Diversity in all things is good.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
12:08 PM on 04/21/2012
Can this headline save the planet?
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Michael D Ballantine
Texas Justice Party - Chairperson
10:30 AM on 04/21/2012
Great job and an informative article. Let's hope we can see demand for this product increase so the cost can come down. Instead of investing in sewer lines and water treatment plants, requiring new home owners to install this type of toilet would be hugely beneficial to the environment and the community. Families that do not need their compost waste could either sell it or drop it off at a collection station where it could be used to replace current compost purchases by local communities.
03:03 PM on 04/21/2012
While I basically "get" where you're coming from, what you posted is EXACTLY what is driving so many people crazy this election season -- where the Right is constantly pointing out how the Left wants to micro-manage and literally command people how to live their lives (mandatory government healthcare, etc, etc, etc).

Seriously, speaking as a middle of the road Independent, I think the creation of this toilet is a funky, funny thing that could have beneficial uses at SOME point down the road.

On the other hand -- honestly -- your post lost me when first you said (quote): "REQUIRING new home owners to install this type of toilet." Gee, thanks for driving up the cost of my new house by literally FORCING me to buy a freaking 6 THOUSAND DOLLAR TOILET. No, wait, if I have a 2 or 3 bathroom home, you've just tacked on EIGHTEEN GRAND to the cost of my home.

Not to mention, thanks for killing more of my free time by likewise wanting "Families that do not need their compost waste could drop it off at a collection station." For crying out loud, it's already a pain in the you-know-what to stand around waiting for service to recycle water and soda bottles and what not!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Michael D Ballantine
Texas Justice Party - Chairperson
08:11 PM on 04/21/2012
First, the cost would drop like a rock so it would not cost you $6,000. Second, most construction does not hook-up to city infrastructure but to sand mounds and other types of local drainage. My sand mound cost me $12,000 for three toilets. I could of substantially reduced it had these toilets been around. Further, one can increase property density if we do not have to dispose of toilet water on land. You need to start thinking outside the box instead of the 4 walls in your head.
08:25 AM on 04/22/2012
You are already REQUIRED to install a septic system. Want to talk about restrictions? We wanted to put in a composting toilet in a cabin on our 10way acres but were denied and told we have to install a septic which is a waste if fresh water and pollutes. All because the repubs want to line the pockets of their contractor friends which put in your 15k septic system.
09:50 AM on 04/21/2012
Maybe not for city folks, but it's a lot cheaper than having to put in a septic tank and leach field out in the country. And it would work on cheap land that doesn't perc.
08:27 AM on 04/22/2012
Yes...agreed....the problem is getting your county to approve a composting toilet. They don't like change.
photo
paxatman
Do no harm, Help others.
07:46 PM on 04/20/2012
Good idea. I hope the company becomes flush with cash.
photo
agb1953
Carson/Rubio 2016! Run Ben Run!
06:36 PM on 04/20/2012
Price is too high. I don't care if it's lined with unicorn skin, $4000 to $6000 is not cost effective. I've got 3 toilets in my home. Instead of me and my neighbors paying $15K for new toilets we'd be better off paying an extra $1000 a year in taxes so the county could build a better treatment plant. When the thing comes down to $500 each I'll install them in my home, until then, nope.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Michael D Ballantine
Texas Justice Party - Chairperson
10:26 AM on 04/21/2012
That is strictly a demand volume issue. If the government mandated home composting, the price would drop to about $250/unit as we began to produce 100s of millions of new toilets. This has a lot of potential and in time like the VCRs and Computers of yesteryear will come down in price.
photo
agb1953
Carson/Rubio 2016! Run Ben Run!
10:03 PM on 04/21/2012
Of course, that's why I said "when the thing comes down to $500" not "if." But with the case of VCRs and computers, those were neat new things everybody wanted. Nothing new about a toilet so I don't think the demand will be there for it to ever lower the price point.
06:30 PM on 04/20/2012
"Can This Toilet Save The Planet"?

That's being pretty uncomplimentary to the planet, isn't it?