We’re going camping for the first time on a basic campsite… no facilities…. I’m taking a bucket with a lid type thing, cat litter and bags etc.. not too worried about wees but poo?? Any suggestions? We are family of 4, 3 kids 11 and 4
It’s coming up to that time of year when stores like Aldi and Lidl start to get their camping gear in stock. They often have a proper portable camping toilet at a decent price and if you are going to be using it often, it may be worth investing in one. When poo drops into the holding tank with the blue or green chemical, it breaks it down and stops smells from coming back up. You would probably need to empty it once a day with 4 people using it but this is easily done if you have used the correct chemical and all sites must provide a place to empty chemical toilets.
I'm not sure 'every' campsite has to provide waste disposal in every form, so a CDP (chemical disposal point) that Pixie-Hex suggested for a Porta-Potti type chemical loo may not be available, I believe caravan/MH ones are required to, but tent only may not! There is an amazing amount of legislation from multiple authorities that cover camp sites (a friend has looked into it!), but at the most basic, for time limited occasional 'pop-up' sites, it looks like absolutely nothing need be provided, so you bring it with you, and you take it away with you too!
I've got a chemical Porta-Potti for when I've camped in tents, and can't recommend highly enough as an alternative to 'other' methods of personal loo. Depending on use, only empty when full type situation, maybe as much as 2 or 3 days and with no smells, beats the need for daily emptying of cat litter type buckets.
As a first experience of camping, AND with a family, I'm not sure a totally, no facilities, 'basic campsite' is the best choice! It can usually be coped with, with experience, but a bit of a challenge for a novice and may put you off camping for life! But what most of us more experienced campers interpret from the term 'basic campsite' is one without toilet or shower facilities, but it would have as a minimum, 'dry waste' (paper, plastic, tins etc.) disposal, chemical/blackwater (toilet) disposal, greywater (washing up/washing water) disposal (that can be 'chuck it in a hedge'!), and a drinking water tap.
It's not unknown, and even 'recommended' as a solution by some, to put ALL bagged human waste in the 'dry waste' bins, others find that pretty unacceptable! No doubt that on warm days it stinks to high heaven and attracts masses of flies in plague like numbers - all very unpleasant for others when they only want to dispose of their cornflake box!
Someone is likely to suggest it, but PLEASE don't - putting your bagged toilet waste into a 'Dog Poo' bin is incredibly selfish and inconsiderate! The bins are rarely emptied frequently enough for the intended purpose and often overflowing, but your ONE bag of human waste/cat litter is likely to take up as much space as say 30-40 dog poos! Us dog owners have a legal and moral responsibility to dispose of our dog waste properly and many of us take that seriously, misuse of the bins hampers that, so whilst you have sorted your problem, you've created one for maybe 40 other people!
Think I would clarify with the campsite what their policy and facilities are, you may be over interpreting 'basic', then again, we may be over expecting facilities!
Thank you everyone, just to clarify, we’re not novice campers, been doing it for 11 years now. Just our first time with no facilities other than drinking water, and wondered what the etiquette was and if there were any pointers. It is indeed a pop up campsite but for £10 a night I’m happy. Happy to bag up all our waste and take it home, just trying to work out how to do it without the smell! lol
The campsite do have a toilet waste disposal, so that’s that sorted! Just need to find a porta loo that will fit in the car, around all the other camping stuff!
Ideally I’d like a flat folding one but doesn’t seem to be one suitable with chemical liquids… thanks everyone for your replies
Use Cat litter that says it neutralises smell. More expensive than sawdust though! Don’t fill the bucket, then scattter some litter / sawdust on top when the bucket’s been used. NZ cat litter is made from maize starch, it dissolves & flushes away down the loo; can’t get it here, I don’t think.
A bit more difficult if any womenfolk have used sanitary products to dispose off: I’d recommend getting supermarket basic nappy sacks for those as they’re quite perfumed; effective, we use them for dog waste bin.
It’s only a weekend: there won’t be much to take home. Cheaper than the portapotti for what might be a one-off event.
Porta Potty from most good camping shops flushing better than bucket and chuck it. Thetford the best others work just as well and cheaper lidl/ Aldi , also come it different sizes your choice. Toilet tent needed .
The only other advice is keep toilet roll in a plastic bag, morning dew in a tent + toilet roll is a disaster and you don't want to be shouting for assistance across a campsite. Arrange a system for hand washing and you are ready willing and able to cope with it.
On a basic site everyone is in the same boat so nowt to fret about everyone dealing with the same problems.
In the meanwhile here is the famous BUMPER dUMPERBumper Dumper
Post last edited on 07/04/2024 02:16:52
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Quote: Originally posted by oldham on 07/4/2024
Porta Potty from most good camping shops flushing better than bucket and chuck it. Thetford the best others work just as well and cheaper lidl/ Aldi , also come it different sizes your choice. Toilet tent needed .
The only other advice is keep toilet roll in a plastic bag, morning dew in a tent + toilet roll is a disaster and you don't want to be shouting for assistance across a campsite. Arrange a system for hand washing and you are ready willing and able to cope with it.
On a basic site everyone is in the same boat so nowt to fret about everyone dealing with the same problems.
In the meanwhile here is the famous BUMPER dUMPERBumper Dumper
Never seen a 'folding' Porta-Potti of the liquid flush type, unfortunately they are a rather large cube to pack in the car!
They need to be quite rigid to cope with firstly up to 40L (40Kg weight!) of total liquid content and a hefty 120Kg adult sitting on it!
I got mine from Lidl middle isle around 10 years ago, and it was a Thetford toilet simply without the external or packaging Thetford branding. ... but MUCH cheaper than elsewhere! At the time, IIRC around £35 vs circa £55! We are coming up to the time of year both Lidl and Aldi start offering such 'special deals'.
Dare I suggest, you can find them second hand claiming to be unused (not beyond the bounds of possibility as people are sometimes squeamish and never get around to using the 'emergency only' facility!) at good prices! .... many of us have 'inherited' pre-used loos in our caravans and MH's, so it's not so different! Couple on ebay right now, one unused, one used, starting at only £10, but collection only.
ABSOLUTELY spot on advice with keeping toilet roll in a plastic bag! They do absorb atmospheric moisture and become unusable! .... don't really need to explain 'how' they fail do we!
The strap new to me, and not planing to try one but good to keep up with what is available
Monty 15
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Good call Monty 15! I’m soon to be the proud owner of a nearly new porta pottie!
Five days on the camp site will be a breeze now!
Thanks all for your help and advice!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Basic camping Toileting
via mobile 06/4/2024 at 8:46am
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but good to keep up with what is available
