MycoToilet

MycoToilet aims to significantly reduce the amount of time required to convert human waste to non-pathogenic soil products in composting toilets. We have developed a fully biodegradable mycelium biocomposite insert for an industry-leading waste-separating composting toilet. The natural thermal resistance of the mycelium insert provides an optimized environment in which engineered microbial communities of thermophilic bacteria decompose harmful pathogens in solid human waste efficiently and effectively. At the end of use, the biodegradable liner is removed from the toilet and placed in the ground, where decomposition occurs naturally.

2.3B people lack access to sanitation globally

Untreated human waste is a leading cause of disease and mortality among the 2.3B people who lack access to adequate sanitation globally. Current centralized approaches to waste treatment are energy intensive and require significant amounts of water. Toilet flushing requires approximately 30% of water used by Canadian households. Wastewater treatment plants account for 3% of global energy demand and account for 56% of GHG emissions by the water industry. Decentralized approaches such as chemical toilets reduce energy and water use, but require toxic chemicals which create economic, operational, and disposal challenges.

The energy, infrastructure and resource requirements of both conventional centralized and decentralized approaches often exceed the capacity of rural and developing communities. In contrast, we have developed a fully biodegradable insert for composting toilets that speeds decomposition of waste and eliminates the need for energy and chemical inputs.