This is why our composting toilets don't smell

Unpleasant odours, as they are known from dry toilets without a separation system, chemical toilets, but also from conventional toilets, are mainly caused by a simple, but momentous circumstance: It is well known that these toilet variants do not separate urine and feces (excrement), which is less advantageous than it may initially appear.

One of the reasons for this lies in the catalytic effect that the mixing of solid and liquid excrements has on the formation of odours. This is because mixing them inevitably results in a particularly high moisture content, which is extremely beneficial to the formation of unpleasant odours. In addition, an unpleasant by-product, ammonia, is formed during the rotting and decomposition processes of the mixed excreta; this is responsible for the majority of unpleasant odours.

Conventional dry toilets without a separation system accept this odour formation as it were and offer few options to prevent it. Although chemical toilets prevent the formation of unpleasant odours, this is only achieved by using aggressive chemicals that are added to the mixed excreta. These chemical substances (including glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde and quaternary ammonium compounds) then prevent the natural, bacterial decomposition process, which stops the formation of odours, but transforms the toilet contents into a kind of chemical “combat mixture”.

This is not only extremely harmful to the environment, but is also anything but harmless to humans if you come into direct contact with these substances. Moreover, for this very reason, the contents of chemical toilets can only be emptied at specially equipped disposal stations, which requires enormous effort. As a result, chemical toilets successfully prevent the formation of odours; however, the way in which this result is achieved is not only questionable from an environmental point of view, but also poses considerable challenges for both the user of the chemical toilet and the municipal waste water industry when disposing of the chemical substances.

When using our TROBOLO dry toilets, however, you do not have to put up with any annoying odours! All our toilets have different features that prevent odours in an uncomplicated and environmentally friendly way. All TROBOLO toilets have in common the well thought-out TROBOLO separation system, which already reduces the formation of odours to a large extent. Depending on the type of toilet, a natural or electrical exhaust air system supports the complete absence of odours in our dry toilets. How exactly this works is explained in the following sections.

So let’s summarise:

It’s not just the separation principle of the TROBOLO composting toilet that prevents the formation of unpleasant odours to a large extent. You can also do a lot to prevent odours with the optional composting toilet accessories.

Let’s take a closer look.

The TROBOLO separation system separates urine from faeces and directs it into a separate liquids container. As this prevents solid and liquid excretions from mixing, any formation of odours is also prevented as described above. Unpleasant odours are thus reduced to a minimum by this separation process.

Any residual odours, which can be caused by solids in particular, are bound in our models lacking an electrical exhaust air system by adding compostable and ecological litter. This is added to the faeces after every “Number Two”, binds the remaining moisture and thus also any lingering odours.

In contrast to a composting toilet, where all urine, which makes up 90% of human excreta, has to be bound along with solids due to mixing with them, the TROBOLO with our TROBOLO Separation System only adds litter to solids and therefore requires much less of it.

Thanks to our TROBOLO separation system and the use of litter, formation of unpleasant odours is already decisively and effectively prevented. The TROBOLO KersaBœm, our model for outdoor use, also has an exhaust air system that makes use of the natural chimney effect. This physical effect ensures that warm air rises and a slight suction is created inside the exhaust duct. Thanks to these vertically directed air currents, moisture and residual odours are conducted out of the dry toilet via the exhaust air pipe, which additionally promotes odour neutralisation.

Due to the natural functioning of this exhaust air system, no electrical energy is required, which not only saves you additional costs, but also ensures maximum freedom in the choice of location for your TROBOLO KersaBœm.

One of the most effective ways to eliminate unpleasant odours from the liquids container is through our patented TROBOLO SafeShell System®. This unique feature ensures the liquids container remains entirely odour-proof at all times, delivering a consistently fresh experience and allowing you the freedom to empty it at your convenience, rather than adhering to strict emptying schedules.

Additionally, the system prevents spills, making it an ideal choice for mobile use. Seamlessly integrated into the container lid and firmly connected to the urine diverter, the TROBOLO SafeShell System® offers exceptional reliability and performance, whether you're at home or out on an adventure.

Thanks to the specific functionality of TROBOLO dry toilets, unpleasant odours while using the toilet are a thing of the past. Our separation system reliably guides urine and faeces into separate collection containers and thus not only enables them to be emptied easily, but in particular prevents the decomposition processes that would be rapidly accelerated if urine and faeces were mixed – which is the main mechanism for the formation of smells. The TROBOLO separation system already reduces odours to a minimum.

In order to bind residual moisture and thus further prevent the formation of odours in our models without an electrical exhaust system, natural litter is added to the solids after each visit to the toilet. Finally, if you do not want to make any compromises when it comes to odour prevention, our models with electrical exhaust system ensure complete odour elimination.

The ingeniously complementary functionalities of our TROBOLO dry toilets – from the separation system and the use of natural litter to efficiently operating exhaust air systems – thus offer you a sanitary technology that successfully counteracts the arguably more unpleasant aspects of toilet use, namely the formation and experience of unpleasant odours, and thus makes going to the toilet as pleasant as possible.

Further information on the function of our separation toilets can also be found here: How does a TROBOLO composting toilet with separation system work?