Activated last June, the toilet is the only one of its kind in the United States. According to Bianics Toilet, developers of the technology, the biotoilets have been in use on Mt. Fuji for years and will soon be installed in the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia.
Bianics biotoilets use micro-organisms in cedar chips to break down toilet waste into water and carbon dioxide. "The water is then re-circulated into the toilet tank, and thus never leaves the system." said Bianics, who donated the Cougar Rock unit to the Park in cooperation with the international environmental group Groundwork Mishima.
There is no wastewater, no sludge and no need to empty or clean the system. Each flush-style toilet is fully self-contained, self-cleaning, odorless, needs only occasional water [though the Cougar Rock biotoilet uses a rainwater catchment system] and uses about as much power as a typical microwave. The biotoilets even have heated seats!
Too good to be true? Maybe. Each biotoilet costs around $70,000 USD. At that price, don't expect to see these in use in residential construction any time soon. A typical residential septic or sewer system can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000 USD plus fittings and fixtures. Bianics biotoilets just don't make economic sense for residential construction projects.
There is good news though. Prices for public restroom projects can range from $400,000 - $500,000 USD (approximately $50,000 per seat) plus regular maintenance. At that price-point, the maintenance-free Bianics biotoilet suddenly seems like a terrific solution.
With economic stimulus dollars in play, the time is right for public institutions to make the move to more environmentally-friendly solutions such as the Bianics biotoilet. We're looking forward to stumbling upon more of these in U.S. parks and public spaces very soon.
Posted to WorldChanging by WorldChanging Team
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