Rahul Somvanshi
A new toilet that uses mushrooms to break down human waste has opened at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The “MycoToilet,” launched on September 26, 2025, at the UBC Botanical Garden, works without water and turns waste into useful compost.
Unlike regular toilets that flush waste away with water or chemical toilets that use harmful chemicals, this toilet uses mycelia – the root networks of mushrooms – to naturally break down what we leave behind.
“We wanted to turn a daily routine everyone knows into a pleasant experience that reminds us of our connection to ecological cycles,” said Joseph Dahmen, associate professor at UBC’s school of architecture and landscape architecture and leader of the project.
The toilet was designed to solve problems with traditional composting toilets, which often smell bad and require lots of maintenance. Lab tests show that the mushroom liners remove more than 90 percent of odor-causing compounds, making this toilet much less smelly than other composting options.
The MycoToilet only needs to be maintained four times a year, unlike chemical toilets that need weekly servicing. It’s also wheelchair accessible, making it usable by more people.
Built with prefabricated timber panels and cedar wood on the outside, the toilet building has a green roof with plants growing on top, good air flow, and natural light from a skylight. Inside, the toilet separates liquid from solid waste. The solid waste goes into a compartment lined with mycelia, where the mushroom roots and helpful microbes break it down into compost.
“Fungi are very good at breaking down biomass, including human and animal waste,” explained Dr. Steven Hallam, professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at UBC. “They produce enzymes that transform material into simpler compounds while supporting microbial communities that accelerate decomposition.”
When fully working, the toilet is expected to produce about 600 liters of soil and 2,000 liters of liquid fertilizer each year. This turns what would normally be waste into valuable resources for growing plants.
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The MycoToilet is now starting a six-week test with real users. Researchers will study how the mushrooms and microbes work together to break down waste and keep smells away.
This innovation comes at a time when global sanitation remains a major challenge. According to recent data from the World Health Organization, about 3.5 billion people worldwide lack access to safe sanitation services. Poor sanitation contributes to disease spread, especially in areas without proper infrastructure.
The UBC team sees potential for the MycoToilet beyond just the botanical garden. “If successful, the MycoToilet could provide a self-contained, cost-effective solution for managing waste in parks, municipalities, remote communities and developing regions,” said Professor Dahmen.
The project received support from multiple organizations, including NSERC’s New Frontiers in Research Fund, UBC’s Campus as a Living Lab, UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program, and the BioProducts Institute.
An early version of the MycoToilet was designed for use in refugee camps, showing its potential for helping areas with limited resources. With no need for water or chemicals, and only minimal solar-powered ventilation, this mushroom-powered toilet could offer a practical solution for the billions of people worldwide who still lack basic sanitation.
As climate change threatens water supplies in many regions, waterless solutions like the MycoToilet could become increasingly important for building sustainable, resilient communities.
