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Outdoor adventures are fun and some like camping require you to be there for a couple of days or more. Besides the fun, there are responsibilities and one of those includes disposing of human waste from portable toilets.
Portable toilets come in handy to give home-like comfort when you are away from home. Sometimes, people use portable toilets indoors in cases of illnesses that limit their mobility. When Mother Nature calls, you need to answer and there is a mess to clean up and this article will guide you through that process.
What is a Portable Toilet?
A portable toilet refers to a product that you can easily carry that is specifically designed to give you home-like comfort when answering a call of nature when you head out for outdoor adventures. Usually, the toilets are lightweight and compact to fit in tight spaces. They feature a flushing system, waste tank, and clean water tank.
Types of Portable Toilets
- The compost toilet
This one resembles a standard toilet and features a flush system. It has a high pedestal to eliminate tension on your thighs, making it ideal for adults. Additionally, this type of portable toilet has a seat to enhance your comfort when using it. As a matter of fact, some models have toilet paper holders, making it more convenient.
Due to its advanced construction, this portable toilet has components in place to eliminate smell and flush human waste after use. Some use sawdust and ash to help decompose the waste. The downside of this type of portable toilet is that it is bulky and therefore, requires significant space in your car when you are on the go.
- Bucket toilet
This is the common type of portable toilet and requires you to use a liner or plastic bag inside the bucket before using it. Waste collects in the plastic bag, making disposal easy and mess-free. The bucket toilet offers you a budget-friendly option when you are traveling on a budget. If you occasionally go out for camping adventures, this one will serve you right. Moreover, this portable toilet is lightweight, easy to carry, and simple to assemble and set up. It easily allows you to disassemble it when traveling, saving you space as you head to your campsite.
One of the downsides of using this portable toilet is discomfort as it lacks a toilet seat. However, some models come with a toilet seat, but if yours lacks one, you can buy a separate toilet seat to enhance comfort during use. Bucket toilets lack an odor control system as well, requiring you to empty them often. Additionally, the bucket toilet does not separate liquid from solid waste, so it helps to set it aside for solely number twos for easy management if possible.
- Chemical toilet
This one is similar to the compost toilet but has advanced chemicals that deal with smell elimination. You can find them in big public events, construction sites, and festivals. The operation of this type of portable toilet isn’t as environmentally friendly and so waste disposal should happen cautiously.
What to Consider when Buying a Portable Toilet
- Tank capacity: The length of your camping adventure and the number of people using the portable toilet should determine the appropriate toilet tank capacity. For a large group and longer stay, it’s wise to invest in a toilet with a larger tank capacity or have more toilets for everyone.
- Privacy: Some people prefer doing their private business privately and if you are one of those people, it is wise to invest in a shelter. This makes a portable toilet look a lot like a home toilet, giving you the peace and privacy that you desire.
- Size: It is important to consider the portable toilet size to ensure that it fits in your car or RV. For more comfort, get a toilet with appropriate height, especially for adults.
- Weight: It’s important to invest in a lightweight portable toilet if you have a long distance to carry it through. Additionally, the unit should have a stable platform to support users as the ground isn’t always stable or flat.
- Waste Disposal: Portable toilets differ in how you dispose of waste. Chemical toilets for instance solidify urine, making it lightweight and eliminating the chances of spilling it. This also makes cleaning easier as all waste bonds together, simplifying the emptying process.
How to Dispose of Human Waste from Portable Toilets?
Responsible people will dispose of human waste responsibly even in natural areas like camping sites. Here are steps to help execute that task responsibly and without much exposure to it.
Step 1: Identify a disposal site
If you are out camping, you need to locate designated areas for disposing of human waste. Mainly these areas are a distance away from campsites and are often discreet spots. Look for these areas early enough when you get to the campsite before you need them. Later in the evening or early morning are great times to dispose of the human waste from portable toilets.
Step 2: Prepare to unload your portable toilet
It is safe to put on disposable gloves when preparing to unload a portable toilet. Most of these units have clean and waste water tanks separately. Detach what holds these two tanks together and separate them. You do not want to carry the freshwater tank to the disposal area because that means more weight.
Step 3: Carry the waste tank to the disposal site
Carefully and slowly carry the waste tank to the disposal site to avoid spilling the content. Some disposal areas might consist of trash dispensers while others have open grids. Get rid of the cap on the spout of the waste tank and carefully hold the tank to get ready to empty.
For some tanks, you will find a rotating spout that disposes the content away from where you are standing and away from your hands, eliminating chances of waste splashing on you. In case yours lacks a spout, take a few steps back to keep the mess from getting to you. Pour out the content into the disposal tank or grid until the waste tank is empty.
Step 4: Clean the waste tank
Most disposal sites have a hose/tap to clean the tank. Have clean water run into the tank, close the spout, and gently shake the tank to clean off any remains from the tank. Pour out the water into the disposal area and repeat the process until your tank is clean.
Step 5: Return the waste tank
If the portable toilet will be used again, carry some little water inside the tank and pour some disinfectant chemicals in it to prepare it for reuse. However, if you are getting ready to leave the campsite, skip this process. Carry the tank back and assemble it to the entire unit. Refill the freshwater tank if need be, remove your disposable gloves and clean your hands thoroughly with soap and running water.
Conclusion
It is unpleasant to dispose of human waste from portable toilets, but it is necessary to do that responsibly. When disposing of human waste, it is important to do that safely and wear disposable gloves to avoid contacting harmful bacteria.
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