I do not deploy either chemical porta-toilet or cat litter bucket.
But those pros and cons do suppose a chemical disposal point - many of the sites I use have no Elsan point, and compost toilets into which chemical fluids must not be tipped. Also a small food compost type caddy bucket with lid is much smaller than a portable toilet plus chemicals for people who camp without roof boxes, trailers, huge cars etc.
Quote: Originally posted by DeborahTurner on 16/5/2023
I do not deploy either chemical porta-toilet or cat litter bucket.
But those pros and cons do suppose a chemical disposal point - many of the sites I use have no Elsan point, and compost toilets into which chemical fluids must not be tipped. Also a small food compost type caddy bucket with lid is much smaller than a portable toilet plus chemicals for people who camp without roof boxes, trailers, huge cars etc.
Each to their own!
I was being a little tongue in cheek
Never been to a camp site without a CDP in recent years, although in the pop-up camp sites at motor sport events I use in France that amounts to an open sewer manhole! Nor would I likely go back to 'grass roots/bare bones' camping given the chance, good luck and no objections whatsoever to those that favour it. Done enough 'roughing it', seek a little sophistication these days, though complete 'Glamping' is too far for me, mind you, think the caravan probably damns me on that one!
Not sure many of those favouring 'buckets' are actually going down the no CDP/composting toilets type site route, seem to be more mainstream sites, and not sure plastic bin bags fit in with the green ethos of a composting toilet type site, although a bare bucket probable works!
OK I'll bite. Here are the TimCESmith family's lavatory habits.
We got a BoginaBag back in 2014 for solo-plus-then-4yo-daughter trips because night-time pees. Expensive to run but effectively zero pack size and well worth it at the time. Any leak was a proper drama, and the risk was high. We passed it and our stock of bags on to a friend with younger children.
Then we got a CarpLife BivvyLoo and used wood pellet cat litter. Tiny pack size, because it folds flat, is cheap to run (if you use wood pellet cat litter in it, instead of the manufacturer's weird gelling agent powder) and it's properly leak tolerant. They're designed for 200kg carp fishermen and indestructible. We still have it.
Like a lot of tent campers, we got a flushing bog immediately post-lockdown for #2s whilst facilities were shut. Negligible cost to run, enormous pack size, fingers crossed no leaks so far - but get one with a gauge on the tank, and pay attention to the gauge. Obv, it also takes a bit more maintenance than "bucket and chucket" and somehow this has become "my" job. The family insists we find space in the car for this one, and I have to say it's nicer than sharing the bedroom with a festering bucket of p**sy cat litter.
I recently went to an eco campsite (see reviews of Thames View Camping at East Tilbury: a gem) with compost loos and no Elsan point. The Thetford flusher would have been impossible and the cat litter option would have been disrespectful, so I got on and used what was on offer. Brrrrr.
To get back to the point, wood pellet cat litter is the thing to use in bucket loos - we've been through the alternatives. Please be aware that it expands. A lot.
Recycled/bio degradable bin bags and bucket toilet, filled with wood pellets, or silica gel cat litter, Lavender or aloa vera scented if possible. disposed of in site skip.
It's funny how old threads can come back to life, and are still relevant, must mean new people are campers
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Topic: cat litter in portable toilet query
