Incinerating toilets – How do they work?
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Incinerating toilets – What are they?
Incinerating toilets are waterless sanitation solutions that process human waste at high temperatures and turn it into sterile ash instead of composting it. Use is simple: insert an incineration bag, use the toilet and start the programme – the end result is only a small amount of clean ash.
When installed correctly and used in the right environment, an incinerating toilet is a hygienic, odour-free and very easy-to-use solution. Separett has decades of experience with incinerating toilets, especially in the Nordic countries, where they have served tens of thousands of users in holiday homes and remote locations.
How does an incinerating toilet work?
Separett’s incinerating toilet uses an electric heating element that heats the waste to over 550 degrees. During the process, the waste dries and burns completely, producing only around 15 grams of sterile ash per use.
The incineration process is monitored by intelligent sensors. The toilet also has a catalyst that cleans smoke and odours before the air exits through the ventilation pipe. If the temperature or ventilation deviates from normal, the system automatically stops operation to ensure safety.
- Completely waterless – no sewage or water connection required
- Hygienic and sterile end result
- No composting or post-treatment of waste required
- Effective odour control thanks to catalyst filtration
The benefits of an incinerating toilet
Incinerating toilets are particularly suitable for locations where composting is not possible or desired. They are a popular solution in cold conditions, in holiday homes and in places where ease of use and hygiene are priorities.
Purchase and operating costs
Incinerating toilets are technically advanced appliances, which is why their purchase price is higher than that of urine-diverting toilets.
- Urine-diverting toilet: 5,800-9,500 SEK
- Incinerating toilet: approximately 30,000-36,000 SEK
There are also ongoing costs during use:
- Incineration bags: approximately 1 SEK per use
- Electricity consumption: approximately 2 kWh per incineration
- Service and spare parts: on average approximately 110 SEK per month in the long term
In return, the user gets a very clean, odour-free and easy-to-use toilet solution.
Maintenance and things to consider
High temperatures place strain on the appliance’s components. Over time, the heating element wears out and must be replaced to maintain safety and efficiency. The ash pan should be emptied regularly, and proper ventilation must be ensured.
Because a large proportion of human waste is water, evaporating it requires energy. An incinerating toilet consumes electricity in a way that is comparable to household heating appliances.
Sustainability and environmental perspective
An incinerating toilet destroys all organic material, and nutrients are not returned to the soil. This makes the solution very low-maintenance and sterile, but it differs from solutions based on circular resource use.
Urine-diverting toilets enable nutrient recycling and support a closed nutrient cycle. Separett sees these solutions as complementary – for different needs and different usage environments.
Looking to the future
Separett’s goal is to offer sustainable and functional sanitation solutions that combine comfort, safety and environmental responsibility. The range includes both urine-diverting waterless toilets and future innovations in incinerating technology.