Editing Composting toilet (section)

== Terminology ==
[[File:Schematic of the composting chamber.svg|thumb|upright=1.6|Schematic of the composting chamber which is located below the toilet seat<ref name="tilley">{{cite book|isbn = 978-3-906484-57-0|url = http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/454|title = Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies -|author1=Tilley, E. |author2=Ulrich, L. |author3=Lüthi, C. |author4=Reymond, Ph. |author5=Zurbrügg, C. |publisher = Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Duebendorf, Switzerland|page = 72|year = 2014|edition = 2nd Revised}}</ref>]]

The term "composting toilet" is used quite loosely, and its meaning varies by country. For example, in Germany and Scandinavian countries, composting always refers to a predominantly aerobic process. This aerobic composting may take place with an increase in temperature due to microbial action, or without a temperature increase in the case of slow composting or cold composting. If earth worms are used ([[vermicomposting]]) then there is also no increase in temperature.

Composting toilets differ from [[pit latrine]]s and [[arborloo]]s, which use less controlled decomposition and may not protect [[groundwater]] from nutrient or [[pathogen]] contamination or provide optimal nutrient recycling. They also differ from [[urine-diverting dry toilet]]s (UDDTs) where pathogen reduction is achieved through dehydration (also known by the more precise term "[[desiccation]]") and where the feces collection vault is kept as dry as possible. Composting toilets aim to have a certain degree of moisture in the composting chamber.

Composting toilets can be used to implement an [[ecological sanitation]] approach for [[resource recovery]], and some people call their composting toilet designs "ecosan toilets" for that reason. However, this is not recommended as the two terms (i.e. composting and ecosan) are not identical.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="rieck">Rieck, C., von Münch, E., Hoffmann, H. (2012). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/874 Technology review of urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDTs) - Overview on design, management, maintenance and costs]. Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Eschborn, Germany</ref>
[[File:SelfContainedCompostingToiletDesign.png|thumb|Schematic of a composting toilet with [[urine diversion]]]]
Composting toilets have also been called "sawdust toilets", which can be appropriate if the amount of aerobic composting taking place in the toilet's container is very limited.<ref name=":3">Hill, B. G. (2013). [http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/2138 An evaluation of waterless human waste management systems at North American public remote sites]. PhD thesis, University of British Columbia (Vancouver), Canada</ref> The "[[Clivus multrum]]" is a type of composting toilet which has a large composting chamber below the toilet seat and also receives undigested organic material to increase the carbon to nitrogen ratio.  Alternatives with smaller composting chambers are called "self-contained composting toilets" since the composting chamber is part of the toilet unit itself.