Will U.S. Homeowners Adopt Eco-Toilets?

Abstract

On Cape Cod, eco-toilets could help mitigate an existing pollution problem, but observed adoption rates have been extremely low. A household survey was used to examine primarily nonmonetary factors affecting homeowners’ willingness to adopt eco-toilets. This study is the first of its kind, surveying potential buyers and users of in-home eco-toilets in the United States who must manage an urgent sewage-driven pollution problem. Although the respondents were highly educated, the pollution problem and possible solutions were not well understood by all participants. At the same time, willingness to use eco-toilets in various settings (46% “completely willing” to stay at a hotel with eco-toilets) and even install them in the home (34% neutral, 22% “completely willing”) was considerably higher than expected based on the low adoption rate to date. Perceptions of positive and negative consequences of installing eco-toilets were of particular importance. The results suggest that education efforts would improve the public’s understanding of eco-toilets, and along with monetary and nonmonetary incentives, would likely increase adoption rates.