Composting Toilet vs Incinerating Toilet

You've found the land. You've mapped out the solar setup. Now comes the question that surprises a lot of first-time off-grid builders: what do you do about the toilet?

If you're building a tiny house, converting a van, setting up a remote cabin, or simply trying to cut ties with municipal infrastructure, a traditional flush toilet is off the table. You need something that works without water lines, sewer connections, or a septic system. That narrows your best options down to two technologies that have proven themselves in the real world: composting toilets and incinerating toilets.

Both are genuinely effective. But they're very different in how they work, what they cost to run, what they require from you day-to-day, and which situations they're actually built for. This guide compares them head to head — so by the time you're done reading, you'll know exactly which one fits your setup.

How Each System Works

Composting Toilets

A composting toilet manages waste through biology rather than chemistry or heat. Solid waste drops into a composting chamber where aerobic microorganisms break it down over time. Most modern composting toilets use a urine-diverting design — liquids drain separately, which dramatically reduces odor and speeds up the composting process. The end result is a dry, earth-like compost that can be removed periodically and, depending on local regulations, used in non-edible garden applications.

Composting toilets typically require a small amount of electricity to run a ventilation fan, which exhausts air outside and keeps the unit odor-free indoors. Some models also use a low-heat element to assist evaporation. They're quiet, require no fuel, and have low ongoing operating costs.

Incinerating Toilets

An incinerating toilet takes a more direct approach: it uses heat — from propane or electric elements — to incinerate all waste into a small quantity of sterile ash. The process is essentially complete waste elimination. There's nothing to compost, nothing to monitor biologically, and no liquid management required. Each use produces a small amount of sterile ash that can be disposed of simply and safely.

Incinerating toilets are completely waterless and require no plumbing of any kind. They run on propane or electric power and need to be vented outdoors. Because incineration is a thermally intensive process, they do consume more energy per cycle than composting units — but what you get in return is the simplest, most hands-off waste management available in the off-grid world.

Head-to-Head Comparison

* Pricing varies by model and configuration. See individual product pages for current pricing.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Which Is Right for You?

The honest answer is that neither system is universally better — they just solve the problem differently.

If you're building a permanent or semi-permanent off-grid home and you want a low-energy, low-operating-cost solution that you'll manage hands-on every few weeks, a composting toilet is likely the better fit. The upfront cost tends to be lower, the ongoing power draw is minimal, and brands like Nature's Head, Sun-Mar, and Separett have refined the composting toilet experience to a genuinely user-friendly level.

If you're in a vehicle, dealing with extreme temperatures, operating at altitude, handling high daily user counts, or simply want waste completely eliminated with zero biological management required, an incinerating toilet is worth the investment. EcoJohn's TinyJohn line is the benchmark here — purpose-built for exactly these scenarios, manufactured in the USA, and backed by dedicated installation and maintenance support.

Shop Composting Toilets at PowerGen Store

PowerGen Store carries a curated selection of the most trusted composting toilet brands available. All ship free to the contiguous 48 states.

Nature's Head is one of the most widely recognized composting toilet brands in the off-grid and marine world. Their self-contained units use a urine-diverting design with a crank agitator for mixing, making them a practical choice for RVs, sailboats, and tiny homes. Compact and durable, Nature's Head toilets are built to last and easy to use day-to-day.

Sun-Mar offers some of the most versatile composting toilet options on the market, with both self-contained and central (remote drum) systems available. Their units are well-suited to cabins, cottages, and full-time off-grid homes, with a range of capacities to match household size. Sun-Mar has been manufacturing composting toilets for decades and brings deep product experience to every model.

Separett takes a minimalist Scandinavian approach to the composting toilet — clean design, smart urine separation, and a focus on simplicity. Their most popular models use a rotating container system that makes maintenance straightforward, and the low-odor performance is consistently praised. A great choice for those who want a polished, design-forward unit that still gets the job done off-grid.

Shop EcoJohn Incinerating Toilets at PowerGen Store

PowerGen Store is an authorized dealer for EcoJohn — the leading name in off-grid incinerating toilets. All EcoJohn products are manufactured in Arkansas, USA, undergo rigorous quality testing, and ship on a pallet for damage-free delivery. The entire TinyJohn lineup is available below.

The TinyJohn Electric is EcoJohn's entry point for all-electric waterless incineration. It eliminates all waste into sterile ash using an electric heating element — no propane required — making it a strong fit for builds where you have reliable AC power but no propane supply. Compact, self-contained, and completely waterless.

The TinyJohn Gas runs on propane and is one of EcoJohn's most versatile off-grid options. It operates reliably at high elevations — customer-documented installations at 8,000 feet confirm its performance in demanding conditions. Available in 12V DC and dual-power (120V AC/12V DC) configurations, it fits a wide range of off-grid power setups. All 2025 models include a hardwired controller mounted directly on the unit.

The TinyJohn BLACK brings the same proven TinyJohn incineration technology in a bold black steel finish — available in both propane and all-electric configurations. Built to handle up to 30 flushes per day, it operates across an extreme temperature range of -35°F to 140°F, making it one of the most cold-weather-capable waterless toilet options on the market. At 65 lbs and 22" tall, it fits comfortably in tight spaces without sacrificing performance.

When single-unit daily demand is high, the TinyJohn XL steps up. Designed to handle up to 60 flushes per day — double the standard TinyJohn — it supports 8–10 back-to-back users and is equally suited to a guest house, a construction site, a larger cabin, or any setting where throughput matters. Available in both propane and all-electric 240V AC models, the XL ships on a pallet and comes with EcoJohn's dedicated installation and maintenance support team.

Installation and Ongoing Maintenance: What to Expect

Composting Toilets

Installation is generally DIY-friendly. Most self-contained units require only a vent pipe run to the exterior — no rough plumbing required. Some models need a small power connection for the ventilation fan. Ongoing maintenance involves periodically adding a bulking material (like coco coir or peat moss) to support the composting process, and emptying the finished compost from the chamber every few weeks to a few months depending on usage. Most users find this takes 10–15 minutes and becomes routine quickly.

Incinerating Toilets

EcoJohn units ship with everything needed and require a vent pipe to the exterior (sold as an add-on vent kit in standard, side vent, or ceiling configurations). A propane connection is required for gas models; electric models need a dedicated AC circuit. EcoJohn provides dedicated support through every step of installation, operation, and maintenance. Bowl liners are used per cycle — they're available in bulk from PowerGen Store and are a routine consumable, much like replacing a toilet paper roll. Ash removal from the ash tray is periodic and simple.

Quick Decision Guide