Menu
Search
All Products
    Menu Close
    Search store Close
    Shopping cart Close

    You have no items in your shopping cart.

    Composting Toilet Guide

    If you’re new to composting and dry toilets, start with your situation instead of the tech. The right system usually becomes much clearer once you first identify where the toilet will live, how often it will be used, and how much space and servicing tolerance the project really has.

    This guide is designed to simplify that first step: start with the real-life use case, then narrow down the composting or dry toilet models that may suit it. Some compact dry toilets collect waste for later handling rather than processing it in the unit. The examples below are starting points. The actual model choice needs to account for regular and peak use, emptying arrangements, operating requirements and the installation or placement conditions.

    At a Glance

    Work through three filters when choosing a composting or dry toilet:

    • your place — where the toilet will live
    • your space — what the building, vehicle or proposed location can accommodate
    • your needs — user numbers, servicing preferences, power, and water expectations
    Step 1

    Where will this toilet live?

    Start with the application. In most cases, this tells you more than the technical language does.

    ↗ Tiny homes & small spaces Tiny home on wheels, cabin, studio or sleepout. Space is tight and budget matters. An all-in-one composting or dry toilet may suit a compact space. Check the model’s mounting, ventilation, power, servicing and waste-handling needs. In more permanent situations, a split / batch system may also be worth considering. Show me toilets for tiny homes » ↗ Baches, lifestyle blocks & off-grid homes Holiday home, crib or rural place that is busy some weekends and quiet at others. These often sit best with either batch systems or self-contained systems — both waterless and generally cost-effective to run. Show me off-grid & rural systems » ↗ Everyday family homes Full-time homes with three or more people using the toilet every day. These typically work best with a split / continuous system — a familiar-looking pedestal inside and a larger composting chamber under or beside the building. Show me residential composting toilets » ↗ Recreational vehicles & boats Motorhome, caravan, bus conversion, launch or houseboat. Consider compact mobile dry toilets with the right fixing, ventilation, power and servicing arrangements for the setting. Product features and waste-handling needs differ by model; a portable design does not itself establish suitability for every vehicle or marine installation. Show me RV & vehicle toilets » ↗ Huts, campgrounds & public sites DOC-style huts, camps, public reserves or work sites with many different users. These are usually best served by high-capacity split or vaulted systems with larger chambers, longer servicing intervals, and more robust buildings. Show me campground & public toilets »

    Not sure which one fits you best? You can always skip ahead to Help Me Choose and we’ll work it through with you.

    Step 2

    A quick look at system types

    This is the “how it works” part — in plain language. You don’t need to memorise the tech; you just need a feel for which approach fits your situation.

    In this guide, self-contained describes a toilet with its container or chamber in the same unit. It does not mean that a vehicle is certified as self-contained. If vehicle certification is needed, confirm the proposed toilet and installation with a Certification Authority before purchase or fitting.

    All-in-one composting and dry toilets
    Toilet and collection container or composting chamber together

    What they are: Depending on the model, a single on-floor unit contains a composting chamber or containers that collect waste for later handling.

    Where to consider them: Tiny homes, cabins, RVs, boats and small bathrooms, subject to the particular model and installation requirements.

    Why people like them: Their compact format can suit limited space. Mounting, ventilation and power needs depend on the model.

    Good to know: Check whether the model processes or collects the waste, the expected emptying interval, and the instructions and local requirements for onward waste handling.

    Browse self-contained systems »
    Batch (swap-out chamber) systems
    A few chambers rotated over time

    What they are: Dry toilets with multiple composting chambers. When one fills, you switch to an empty one and let the full one finish composting.

    Best for: Tiny homes, baches, lifestyle blocks, and off-grid homes with low-to-medium full-time use or higher part-time use.

    Why people like them: Low running costs, low maintenance, and easy-to-understand operation.

    Good to know: You will handle chamber changes from time to time, so access and site layout should be thought through early.

    Browse batching composting systems »
    Split / continuous systems
    Pedestal in the bathroom, larger chamber under or beside the building

    What they are: A more conventional-feeling pedestal inside connected to a larger composting chamber elsewhere.

    Best for: Everyday homes, eco-homes, busy off-grid sites, and higher-use builds.

    Why people like them: More chamber volume usually means less frequent emptying and an easier day-to-day experience.

    Good to know: They need more planning and suitable space, but usually reward that with easier long-term use.

    Browse continuous / split systems »
    High-capacity / public-use systems
    Commercial-grade split systems and larger public facility solutions

    What they are: Larger chamber or vaulted systems designed for heavier traffic and shared facilities.

    Best for: Huts, walking tracks, campgrounds, public parks, work sites, and eco-tourism projects.

    Why people like them: Built for lots of users, long servicing intervals, and lower odour through engineered ventilation.

    Good to know: These are more design-led systems and benefit from early discussion with WCTNZ®.

    Browse commercial & public facility toilets »
    Step 3

    Check water, power, and how off-grid you want to be

    Decide which services you want to be independent of: mains sewerage, reticulated water, grid electricity, or a combination. An off-grid sanitation system can still require electricity. For each model, check its stated water and power needs, ventilation, waste handling and routine operation. An independent electrical supply is a separate installation; an off-grid description does not promise compatibility with every inverter or other power system.

    Quick recap of your composting toilet choice

    1
    Your place
    Tiny home, bach, family home, RV, or public site — where the toilet will live points you toward the right style of system.
    2
    Your space
    Whether the building, vehicle or location suits a compact dry toilet, an all-in-one composting unit or a larger split system, with room for fixing, ventilation and servicing where needed.
    3
    Your needs
    User numbers, usage pattern, and how off-grid you want to be for water and power help fine-tune the actual model choice.

    Remember: your toilet choice starts with your place, your available space, and your expected use.

    Still not sure? Let’s narrow the options together.

    Every site or vehicle is a bit different — access, regular and peak user numbers, emptying arrangements, available space, services and any approval requirements can all affect the choice. If you’d like us to shortlist 2–3 systems against your stated needs and budget, use our quick Help Me Choose form. Tell us what you know and what still needs to be confirmed.

    When we recommend a model, we will explain the usage assumptions and any further checks needed. A stated capacity match relates to that usage and its operating conditions. Site design, drainage, installation, engineering, vehicle certification and consent requirements need separate confirmation where applicable; we will make clear which of those matters our advice covers.

    Open the Help Me Choose form »

    Related WCTNZ® Guidance

    Explore the wider WCTNZ® composting toilet knowledge system:

    Customer Service

    Socials

    Call Us On

    0800 022 0270980 213 17

    Email Us At

    sales@wctnz.co.nzsupport@wctnz.co.nz
    Copyright © 2026 WCTNZ® | Waterless Composting Toilets NZ. All rights reserved.
    All prices are entered excluding tax. Excluding shipping