If you’re limited on space, a collapsible camping toilet such as the Carplife Bivvy loo is a good idea, as this will fold up easily and include a seat and a waste bag. Green chemicals’ don’t contain formaldehyde so are safer and more environmentally friendly than blue. The chemicals come in bottle or tablet form, and need changing after around 10 days. Do you need special toilet paper for portable toilets? Whilst the urine will need to be emptied frequently, the solids can stay in-situ for anything from 4 weeks to a year. If you don’t have access to land for composting, and have small infrequent amounts of waste, you can double-bag the dry solids and dispose in appropriate wastebins. They can be heavy when full, especially if you go for a camp loo with a large waste holding tank, you can pop them on a rolling trolley though if the carrying weight is a real problem. Apart from legal requirements to provide and maintain Welfare Units it’s essential to keep your Welfare Units spotless because:

Big family tents will often have several different rooms or even a side entrance that you could use as a makeshift bathroom. or you can buy stand-alone toilet or utility tents. Odours are removed with a 12V fan which can be powered by a 12v battery, solar panel or plugged in to the mains with a 230v adaptor. It comes with a toilet paper holder and option for a floor plate. Level indicators show the remaining capacity for the waste holder and flush-water tanks. The outer section has a lid which allows access to the inside where the action takes place. There are also a couple of carry handles for moving the toilet around.

Hi-Gear will offer a cleaning service for both portable toilets and larger Welfare Units. This service will be provided as part of a hire agreement with the company. They can also provide cleaning services as a stand-alone service for both portable toilets and welfare units, replenishing water and chemicals and emptying the toilet. These services can be on a regular basis or simply as a one off by calling the company to arrange for a clean and replenishment. PBO reader Stefan Leschner says ‘Air Head’ is the way to go. The Air Head compost toilet is a durable, waterless toilet suitable for canalboats, campervans, caravans, yachts and motorhomes. Thetford have a long history of making portable toilets, and operation of the Qube 335 is very simple as might be expected. Urine gets pumped out with a diaphragm pump but could go to a bottle if in a boatyard. Poop goes to separate container with bag and I use sawdust. No smell and easy to use and dispose of,” says Andrew.

Portable flush toilets need chemicals. You need pink chemicals for the flush-water tank to remove grime and eliminate odour, and blue and green chemicals in the waste tank to break down waste and remove gas build-up. But the times they are a-changing. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced everybody to reassess their hygiene habits in a world where it seems like more people than ever are camping or pursuing outdoor hobbies such as fishing, hunting or mountain biking. A bellows pump is the most common portable toilet flush design. This uses a piece of concertina-like tubing which releases water when you push it up and down.

Should you get a camping toilet?

This separation prevents the need for water or chemicals, and combined with coffee chaff or sawdust, both dries out the waste and masks the smell. Toilet paper should be kept separate as this takes longer to decompose. CampingGaz, the ubiquitous supplier of butane/propane camping gas, sells a range of camping gear, including the Campingaz 20L portable toilet. With a seat height at 45cm, it’s on the large side, but that could also be a bonus for extended stays and those not able to squat down low.