Mushroom Mycelia Transforms Toilets Into Eco Innovators

Quick Smiles:

• Mushroom-based toilet generates fertilizer and eliminates odors.
• MycoToilet is currently trialed at the University of BC botanical gardens.
• Professors aim to inspire ecological awareness through daily routines.

Scientists have unveiled the MycoToilet, a waterless composting toilet that relies on mushroom mycelia to transform waste into valuable soil and fertilizer. This innovative system, now in operation at the University of BC’s botanic gardens, separates solids and liquids for optimal processing.

Developed by professors Steven Hallam and Joseph Dahmen, the toilet captures over 90% of odor compounds and creates up to 2,000 liters of liquid fertilizer and 600 liters of soil annually. Laboratory tests show that the mycelia-lined compartment helps convert waste into nutrient-rich material.

“We wanted to turn a daily routine everyone knows into a pleasant experience that reminds us of our connection to ecological cycles.”

Unlike traditional wastewater systems, which often dispose of effluent in waterways, the MycoToilet recovers useful resources and helps build a circular economy. The research team will continue to evaluate which fungus species are most effective during a six-month garden trial.

Mushrooms are increasingly being explored as powerful decomposers, working with the soil ecosystem to break down even challenging materials. The MycoToilet stands as a hopeful example of how nature-inspired solutions can change the way we see waste.

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