What do I do with the contents of a compost toilet if I don’t have access to a compost bin?
Our preferred method of dealing with the solids (faeces) from a urine-diverting compost toilet is always to compost them in a compost bin (see our page on composting) as they ‘close the loop’ and return valuable nutrients safely to the earth. However, there may be situations, such as in motor homes or boats, where it’s impossible to compost on the go or store anything for later composting at home or on land.
In these situations, you may be able to dispose of small amounts (under 7kg) in municipal waste bins or official council waste disposal sites (the waste will be classed as non-recyclable and is typically used in an energy recovery process) provided the contents are double-bagged and clearly labelled (you can buy ‘tiger bags’ for such a purpose). The contents are referred to as ‘offensive waste’ and come under the same waste classification as used nappies and adult incontinence pads.
If you have permission from a land-owner, you could also bury the contents in the earth. Make sure you are away from a water course, and ensure wildlife and other people can’t easily come into contact with your ‘gift’.
If you’re on a canal or river, never discharge urine or faeces into the water (we hope that’s obvious!), and don’t use the bins provided by the CRT (Canals and River Trust) as they prohibit compost toilet disposal in their bins (it’s a long story…).
Whatever method you choose, always dispose of solid waste safely and responsibly.
