Lady campers, would you use an eco/composting loo at a camp site? If not, why?

[theparkkeeper]

Should I spend money on conventional flush WCs to improve my campsite or would it be a wise move to only add decent compost loos?

We tried a basic compost loo many years back and got mixed feedback and problems with women not using them properly (non separation of waste type). Men seemed to be better users (seperate, conventional urinals and solids only facilities).

Last season, a number of customers actually suggested that we get some compost loos going

The type of compost loo I'm thinking of is supposedly smell free but it does have the complication of 2 "aiming" zones for liquid and solid waste (aka pee and poo/paper). See photo for the type of arrangement.

If you stayed at a camp site that had compost loos, would you see it as a plus or a negative - or neither.

Would you use a "pee only" loo (conventional loo seat, no need to aim but no solids other than paper allowed).

There will still be a conventional WC option but at the moment, we get queues which understandably causes complaints.

We are adults only - so no children under 16.

Before anyone asks - no we don't compost close to the pitches. The waste will be taken away and used on a seperate, private garden.

I'm looking for the opinions of tent and tourer caravan users.

Thanks

@theparkkeeper I think in all honesty this is the type of thing that until you have used them people misunderstand how it works.

They are not complicated to use at all but somehow they sound far more complicated than they are.

I'm happy to use composting loos, and have met nice ones.

It's estimated that 10% of the population have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), including me. I, like others, don't always know what I'll produce, but I also get both diarrhoea and explosive poo, either of which can cover most of the flushable surface of a conventional toilet. How well would a composting toilet cope with this? Especially if it was repeated? Sorry if that's TMI, but worth thinking about it now rather that when faced with the results....

I regularly use compost loos at festivals and campsites. I'm yet to come across one with different aiming zones and there's no way I'd be able to use properly. I eat a lot of veg, everything just comes out pretty fast!

The ones I've used are long drop style, everything together. Sitting on a regular loo seat. Use sawdust after a poo. Shut the lid after to keep flies off.

No problems at all. Possibly because men are explicitly told to sit down so they don't cover the seat in wee. Also very well ventilated.

The only issue is that if you are woman using reusable period products, you also need access to a loo with a washbasin in the same cubicle.

I'd definitely use one. I'm just unsure if my aim would be great for a #2. I'd worry. However I'd probably just use them for urine and use flushable toilets for other.

As touched on previously e.g. IBS, diarrhoea, drunk people - I don't think it would be long before the bowl part of that toilet was covered/blocked with poo/tissue and of course covered in blood.

Does anything flush/clean the bowl part after each use? If you have covered the bowl in blood/spattered it with poo is there an efficient way to clean up or do you just walk away/ try to wipe it with tissue?

When you say it seems 50:50 I think 50% of people might have said they would use them but very few would be put off a campsite because only flushing loos were available.

I also don't get why have them when it doesn't compost anyway - it is taken away so why not just have a flushing loo or septic tank? Taken away and "spead on someone's garden" really? Are you sure it doesn't just join the waste from septic tanks being emptied. Why would anyone put human shit on their garden?

I’ve used the separating ones, and I don’t think they will work well on a campsite. They rely on people being 100% good and I just don’t think that I’ll happen…

i don’t mind long drops myself! I’d be happy w old style composters.

Thanks again for all the feedback - we will definitely take on board some points raised. All our loos have sinks and taps close to them but we will make sure that the new conventional flushing loo that we add will have a sink and hot water supply in the actual loo stall/cubicle - it will be an extension to the building so we can add in a bit more space for the sink - hopefully a positive for those with reusable sanitary products (and good for the environment). Regarding the question about why there is a desire for a compost loo - it is partly because we are close to the limit on our waste water treatment capacity. Yes - well composted waste does go on our garden - better than buying so called compost in plastic bags and if you do buy compost in plastic bags, how do you know what is in it? Could even be sewage sludge compost!

I wouldn't mind too much, but prefer a flush. However I wouldn't book if I knew about the segregation rules as I have two girls and they wouldn't manage it.

I've no problem using a compost toilet (pretty common at campsites, summer houses and hiking areas in Finland so quite used to them) but not keen on the idea of one where you have to aim your wee.

I would use them, I went to a facility last year that had a similar set up and it wasn't a problem at all. I prefer composting toilets when camping, they never seem to smell.

@NannyR

Yes - it's like any public facility, if its not kept clean it can be nasty, same goes for flushing loos.
I've done a lot of overlanding in Africa and have come across a huge range of loo facility. The best by far was a composting loo at a chimpanzee reserve on an island in Lake Victoria, amongst the worst were the loos at the coach station on my way to Heathrow

I am a tent camper and prefer ‘wild style’ sites with compost loos , no EHU, and campfires allowed / pitch where you like in acres of space type camping, because it deters the EHU types with music, film projection etc.

But I camp with friends who won’t go anywhere without at least one flushing toilet.

Loads of places I go have a shed up steps and simple drop into a pit (some sort of container) and with sawdust to chuck down. Human waste , toilet paper and sawdust. No separation. No smell.

I have been to places with separation but they end up revolting because poo gets stuck on the divider.

I think it all depends on your style of site and target market. If you provide EHU, all sorts of facilities, you will have a higher ratio of campers who can’t cope with compost loos.

I used a composting loo 2 years when camping at a brand new site. It's a no from me. That's my line for being eco friendly. I couldn't get the smell out of my nose for 24 hours. Everything I tasted was contaminated by the smell.

I am really confused. Do you mean that as a user of the loo you have to separate wee and poo??How?! When I poo I always wee as well, often simultaneously. I thought everyone did!

A big issue is that lots of women don't sit on a public toilet seat, they hover. Makes this separation system unworkable. Personally I'd find it disgusting to need to sit on the seat and just wouldn't book to stay there.

I'd stay somewhere else, sorry.

I kind of like them in theory. It wouldn't put me off.

However using one with a mooncup is challenging both in terms of hygiene, being able to see, not dropping the samn thing, not leaving a big slick of blood on the divider surface. But camping with a period is a challenge anyway!

With kids (mine are 3 and 6) their botties don't project as far as adults so the separation thing might not work, and they're sometimes scared of the big dark pit underneath, again especially when it's getting dark.

Happy to use either on a normal day, would prefer the option of a flushing toilet with private sink for when I'm on my period or when I've got a bowel flare up.
If you're building new toilets, please consider adding an accessible toilet, with step free access, grab rails and enough space to transfer from the wheelchair. If you have showers one with a seat and grab rails available would also be brilliant - not just for me but also showering little kids in a normal cubicle is just hard work.
I don't suppose I'm the only wheelchair user who really misses the outdoors.

This. Could someone explain how you stop the wee while doing a poo, and how you aim the wee?

OP, I really think you need to research the ones which have no ‘toilet bowl’ , sawdust to throw down, and no separation.

Honestly, I have stayed on about 20-30 sites with toilets like that. A wooden seat over a big container (much wider than the seat) , no separation, a bucket of fresh smelling sawdust.

Both can come out the same time, one falls forward of the dividing wall and one behind it.

Never had a problem using compost toilets with the built in seperator. Use them annually for an event and they are great.no smell really even when quite full.

Do need regular cleaning as inevitably sawdust does end up in the front funnel, but glove on, quick swipe with loo roll and dump in the back (as the cleaner, wouldn't expect campers to be doing that)

Parents do need to be a bit careful to make sure toddlers are sat far enough back, otherwise things don't go where they should. We find young boys also need lots of reminders to sit (or use alternative facilities, but on a campsite I'd be bringing my young boys with me to the ladies)

Depending on the site aand use levels you could also look at tree bogs. No seperator needed, but you do need the right space and proper planting around them for the composting to work.

Not always possible to separate out the two functions if you’re a lady- one often triggers the other.
I’ve previously stayed at glamping sites with compost loos (bucket with sawdust to cover up with) and found them reasonably pleasant to use. No smell other than fresh sawdust. I was only sharing it with my partner so had no issues with sitting on the seat.
I’ve also used that type of loo at festivals and it was ok.
I’m in my early 50s.
I think as long as there’s plenty of sawdust and it’s emptied regularly then it’s fine.