Editing Composting toilet (section)

== Society and culture ==

=== Regulations ===

{{Anchor|iso|ISO}}

==== International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ====
In 2016, the [[International Organization for Standardization]] ([[ISO 3166-2|ISO]]) published the standard "Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services — Guidelines for the management of basic on-site domestic wastewater services".<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=64679|title = ISO/DIS 24521. Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services -- Guidelines for the management of basic onsite domestic wastewater services|access-date = 31 December 2020|website = International Organization for Standardization (ISO)}}</ref> The standard is meant to be used in conjunction with ISO 24511.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=37247|title = ISO 24511:2007. Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services -- Guidelines for the management of wastewater utilities and for the assessment of wastewater services|access-date = 15 January 2015|website = International Organization for Standardization (ISO)}}</ref> It deals with toilets (including composting toilets) and toilet waste. The guidelines are applicable to basic wastewater systems and include the complete domestic wastewater cycle, such as planning, usability, operation and maintenance, disposal, reuse and health.

{{Anchor|iapmo|IAPMO}}

====International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials====

The [[International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials]] (IAPMO) is a plumbing and mechanical code structure adopted by many developed countries. It recently proposed an addition to its "Green Plumbing Mechanical Code Supplement" that, "...outlines performance criteria for site built composting toilets with and without urine diversion and manufactured composting toilets."<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b461cb1ec907251340324d592&id=ce81adae05&e=7e841e70f4|title = Recode September 2014 Newsletter|date = September 2014|access-date = 15 January 2015|website = Recode}}</ref> If adopted, this composting and urine diversion toilet code (the first of its kind in the United States) will appear in the 2015 edition of the Green Supplement to the Uniform Plumbing Code.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.iapmo.org/Documents/green/Item%2093%20%20Composting%20Toilet%20and%20Urine%20Diversion%20Systems%20Proposal.pdf|title = IAPMO Proposed Composting and Urine Diversion Toilet Code|access-date = 15 January 2015|website = The IAPMO Group|publisher = International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials|archive-date = 16 January 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150116120902/http://www.iapmo.org/Documents/green/Item%2093%20%20Composting%20Toilet%20and%20Urine%20Diversion%20Systems%20Proposal.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.plumbingengineer.com/content/iapmo-gpmcs-raising-bar-water-energy-efficiency|title = IAPMO GPMCS raising the bar for water, energy efficiency|date = January 2015|access-date = 15 January 2015|website = Plumbing Engineer|last = Cole|first = Daniel}}</ref>

{{Anchor|USA|usa|US}}

==== United States ====
No performance standards for composting toilets are universally accepted in the US. Seven jurisdictions in North America<ref>Oregon Onsite Advisory Committee [http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/onsite/docs/AdvisoryCommitteeFinalReport20100208.pdf "Final Report of Recommended Changes to Rules Governing Onsite Systems"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930213747/http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/onsite/docs/AdvisoryCommitteeFinalReport20100208.pdf |date=2011-09-30 }}, ''OR DEQ'', February 8, 2010, accessed May 8, 2011.</ref> use ''American National Standard/NSF International Standard ANSI/NSF 41-1998: Non-Liquid Saturated Treatment Systems''. An updated version was published in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://standards.nsf.org/kwspub/public/stds/2013_publications_brochure.pdf |title=PUBLICATIONS - Standards and Criteria - March 21, 2013 |publisher=NSF International |page=4 |quote=Wastewater Treatment Units ... NSF/ANSI 41 – 2011: Non-liquid saturated treatment systems (composting toilets) |access-date=24 March 2013 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Systems might also be listed with the Canadian Standards Association, cETL-US, and other standards programs.

Regarding byproduct regulation, several US states permit disposal of solids from composting toilets (usually a distinction between different types of dry toilets is not made) by burial, with varying or no minimum depth mandates (as little as 6 inches). For instance:
* Massachusetts: "Residuals from the composting toilet system must be buried on-site and covered with a minimum of six inches of clean compacted soil.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url = http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/water/wastewater/regulatory-provisions-for-compost-toilets-and-greywater.html|title = Regulatory Provisions for Composting Toilets and Greywater Systems|access-date = 13 January 2015|website = The Official Website of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs|publisher = Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs}}</ref> Massachusetts requires that any liquids produced but, "not recycled through the toilet [itself, be] either discharged through a greywater system on the property that includes a septic tank and soil absorption system, or removed by a licensed septage hauler."<ref name=":4" />
* Oregon: "Humus from composting toilets may be used around ornamental shrubs, flowers, trees, or fruit trees and shall be buried under at least twelve inches of soil cover."<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://secure.sos.state.or.us/oard/displayChapterRules.action?selectedChapter=68|title = Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division, Division 770, Plumbing Product Approvals|access-date = 13 January 2015|website = Oregon Secretary of State|publisher = State of Oregon}}</ref>
* Rhode Island: "Solids produced by alternative toilets may be buried on site" while "residuals shall not be applied to food crops."<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/water/owts10.pdf|title = State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Department of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources: "Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems"|date = July 2010|access-date = 13 January 2015|website = State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management|publisher = STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS|archive-date = 23 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213455/http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/water/owts10.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref>
* Virginia: "All materials removed from a composting privy shall be buried," and "compost material shall not be placed in vegetable gardens or on the ground surface."<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/EnvironmentalHealth/ONSITE/regulations/documents/2012/pdf/12%20VAC%205%20610.pdf|title = SEWAGE HANDLING AND DISPOSAL REGULATIONS (Emergency Regulations for Gravelless Material and Drip Dispersal), 12 VAC 5-610-10 et seq.|date = 14 March 2014|access-date = 13 January 2015|website = State of Virginia Department of Health|publisher = Commonwealth of Virginia}}</ref>
* Vermont: "Byproducts may be disposed via "...shallow burial in a location approved by the Agency that meets the minimum site conditions [required for an onsite septic tank-based sanitation system]."<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://drinkingwater.vt.gov/wastewater/pdf/finalwspwsrules.effective2007.09.29.pdf#zoom=100|title = Environmental Protection Rules, Chapter 1: Wastewater System and Potable Water Supply Rules|date = 29 September 2007|access-date = 14 January 2015|website = State of Vermont Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Division|publisher = State of Vermont}}</ref>
* Washington: models its extensive regulations for what it refers to as "waterless toilets" on the federal regulations that govern [[sewage sludge]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/337-016.pdf|title = Recommended Standards and Guidance for Performance, Application, Design, and Operation & Maintenance: Water Conserving On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems|date = July 2012|access-date = 14 January 2015|website = State of Washington Department of Health|publisher = State of Washington}}</ref>
The <span>Environmental Protection Agency has no jurisdiction over the byproducts of a dry toilet as long as waste are not referred to as "fertilizer" (but instead simply a material that is being disposed of). Federal rule 503, known colloquially as the "EPA Biosolids rule" or the "EPA sludge rule" applies only to fertilizer</span>. Thus, individual states regulate composting toilets.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owm/upload/2005_07_14_comp.pdf|title = Water Efficiency Technology Fact Sheet: Composting Toilets|date = September 1999|access-date = 13 January 2015|website = United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, D.C., EPA 832-F-99-066|publisher = United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr503_main_02.tpl|title = TITLE 40—Protection of Environment, Chapter I—Environmental Protection Agency (Continued), Subchapter O—Sewage Sludge, Part 503—Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge|access-date = 13 January 2015|website = Electronic Code of Federal Regulations|publisher = United States Government Publishing Office}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Germany|GE}}

==== Germany====
The regulations for composting toilets and other forms of dry toilets in Germany vary from state to state and from one application to another (e.g. use in allotment gardens or use in family homes and settlements). In the different states of Germany, it is the "Landesbauordnung" (translates to "state civil engineering regulations")  of the respective state that regulates the use of such alternative toilets.<ref name=":6">{{cite book|last1 = Lorenz-Ladener|first1 = Hrsg. Claudia|title = Kompost-Toiletten: Wege zur sinnvollen Fäkalienentsorgung|date = 2005|publisher = Ökobuch|location = Staufen im Breisgau|isbn = 978-3-936896-16-9|page = 178|edition = 1. überarb. u. erw. Aufl.|url = http://www.susana.org/en/resources/library/details/1128|last2 = Berger|first2 = Wolfgang}}</ref> Most of them stipulate the use of [[flush toilet]]s, however there are many exceptions, for example in the states of [[Hamburg]], [[Lower Saxony]], [[Bavaria]], [[Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]], [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], [[Saxony-Anhalt]] and [[Thuringia]].<ref name=":6"/> These generally make exceptions for the use of composting toilets in homes provided that there are no concerns for public health.

Regulations governing the use of compost and urine from composting toilets is less clear in Germany but it seems generally allowed provided it is used on one's own property and not sold to third parties.<ref name=":6"/>