What To Do With An Old Toilet: 8 Fun Ideas For Repurposing Your Throne

Non-biodegradable urinals, toilets, and toilet seats are some of the items that commonly end up in landfills. Millions of old toilets are replaced in the United States, and most of that porcelain never breaks down. That’s not good for the environment. If you are planning a bathroom remodel but not sure of what to do with your old toilet, you’ll be happy to know that there are several eco-friendly disposal options out there to help you find a new home for your old John.

Toilets, like other fittings in your home, eventually succumb to wear and tear and need to be replaced over time. Sometimes homeowners are just looking to upgrade to a newer, more comfortable model. Either way, you need to get rid of an old toilet safely. Many areas accept toilets as bulky waste, but then it becomes permanent landfill waste. Family Handyman suggests checking with your local waste management for proper disposal, and recycling or upcycling/repurposing are the greener options.

If you are replacing an older model, there’s a water bonus too. The EPA says older toilets can use as much as 6 gallons per flush, while WaterSense-labeled models use 1.28 gallons or less.

Recycling an Old Toilet

Recycling is the process of converting waste material into reusable products. What would otherwise be thrown away as trash is broken down and reused. By decreasing the need for conventional waste disposal, recycling helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and clean up the earth. Many items, including old toilets, can be recycled. In fact, recycling is one of the best ways to dispose of old toilets. Here are a few ideas to help you recycle an old toilet:[1]

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore

If you want to get rid of a gently used toilet that’s still in good condition, you can donate it to a local Habitat ReStore. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are retail centers that sell new and gently used appliances, furniture, building materials and home items. Proceeds from sales support Habitat’s work helping families build affordable homes. There are ReStores in both the United States and Canada. Each store sets its own rules, so call your local store to ask if they accept old toilets before you haul one over.

• Toilet Recycling Program

Some local authorities have recycling programs where they crush porcelain used to make toilets, mix it with concrete, and use the mixture to build sidewalks and roads. Check with your city to see if there’s a recycling program involving toilets. Your local solid waste company can be very resourceful when it comes to finding toilet recycling programs in your area. You may have to remove non-porcelain materials such as bolts, tank parts and the seat to prepare the toilet for recycling.

• Take It Apart for Parts

You can break your old toilet down for parts that you can use for other projects. Components such as valves, washers, bolts, nuts, elbows, and hoses can be very useful in the event of other toilets in your home breaking down. Parts such as the flapper and the handle may fit other toilet models, but check sizes first, since flappers and flush valves come in different sizes.

Wear work gloves and eye protection when you take a toilet apart. Cracked or broken porcelain has very sharp edges, and the tank and bowl are heavy.

• Sell or Give It Away

Finally, selling or giving away your old toilet is another safe way to get rid of it. List the toilet in your local newspaper or on Craigslist and you might be surprised at the number of people looking for a good deal on the toilet. Clean and disinfect it first, and be honest about its condition and flush volume. If you are having trouble finding a buyer, consider giving it away to someone who could really use a working toilet no matter what it looks like. Selling or giving away an old toilet is a great way to find a new home for it.

Upcycling an Old Toilet

If recycling your old toilet is not an option, you can still repurpose it. Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of converting old or discarded items into something more useful and beautiful. Upcycling grants an item a better purpose. If you are feeling a bit creative and want to repurpose your old toilet, here are a few ideas to try out:

• Sculptures and Wall Hangings

You can use the toilet seat or lid as a canvas for an upcoming painting project. You can also use the seat as a photo frame you can use to hand beautiful pictures in your home. Using the toilet in an upcoming project can also be a promising idea for sculptors in your home.

• Fish Tanks

The back of an old toilet can be turned into a fish tank; all you need to pull it off is a little plumbing know-how to seal the outlet holes watertight. Remove the tank parts and rinse it thoroughly with plain water, since leftover cleaner residue can be deadly to fish. You can use the bowl to store cleaning supplies or fish food. Making a home for your finned friends from the back of a toilet is a great use for an old toilet.

• Pet Bowl

To turn an old toilet into a pet bowl, you need to scrub and disinfect the toilet thoroughly and remove the tank. Use one disinfectant at a time (never mix bleach with other cleaners), then rinse until no residue or smell remains. Stop up open areas and pour drinking water into the bowl for your pets, and change the water daily. Make sure that the bowl is full so that large dogs don’t have to lean so far to quench their thirst.

• Alternative Seats

Did you know that you can even turn an old toilet into a chair? Simply clean the toilet, glue the seat and the lid down securely, and repaint it to match your décor. Consider adding wheels to make the seats easy to move. You can use the repurposed toilet like any other chair in your home office, den, or living room.

• Yard Decoration

Last but not least, you can repurpose an old toilet to create a beautiful flower pot in your backyard. You can plant your flowers of choice and greenery in the repurposed toilet. Just fill the base of the toilet as well as the tank with potting soil and you are good to go. Use pieces of glass and tiles to dress up the outside of your new planter with a mosaic pattern.

There are plenty of reasons to replace a toilet. It could be that your old toilet is uncomfortable or doesn’t work properly. Maybe you just want to replace it with a smart toilet. That’s right; smart devices are now moving to the bathroom. Whatever the reason, disposal is always a challenge whenever you have to replace an old or broken toilet. Use our toilet recycling and upcycling ideas to solve this problem. Check out our other useful guides here.

Sources

• Donate goods to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Habitat for Humanity
• How To Replace a Toilet, Family Handyman
• Residential Toilets, US EPA WaterSense