Even a single gram of human feces can carry parasites, bacteria, and viruses, so it is critical to manage human waste properly in an emergency to avoid the spread of disease and infection. Sanitation is an often overlooked area of emergency preparedness but perhaps one of the most critical for community health and safety.
A very common way of managing waste in an emergency is with a portable toilet option. These options include everything from a shovel and some garbage bags, to simple bucket toilet kits, to full blown porta potties.
In this post, we will focus on bucket toilet kits and fold-to-go toilets as we find it is the most common solution that is economic and user friendly.
How do you dispose of waste from a portable toilet?
To avoid the spread of germs it is important to dispose of human waste properly. It should not be disposed of with regular trash. The simplest approach is to store used waste bags downwind of your campsite or shelter in a location clearly marked to avoid confusion. After the emergency is over, contact your local waste management organization to coordinate a pickup for this kind of waste.
Best practice for bucket kits is to have 2 toilet solutions going at the same time: one for solid waste, and the other for liquid waste. Solid waste contains the majority of harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites so it must always be dealt with very carefully. Liquid waste, however, can be diluted with water and poured on green spaces or down storm drains in an emergency.
The two-bucket system helps reduce the load on emergency waste management systems after the disaster is complete.
How many portable toilets do I need? How many bags?
As mentioned above, a two bucket toilet system is best practice. One bucket is used for liquid waste and one for solid waste as both can be disposed of differently.
If that is not an option, one bucket will do just fine. On average, changing your bucket liner once per day works well for a lot of people so you will want at least one bucket liner for every day you are prepared. Total Prepare sanitation packs come with 10 bucket liners and 10 sachets of toilet treatment chemical among other portable toilet accessories.
How do you empty a portable toilet?
When using a portable toilet ensure you use enough toilet chemicals, cat litter, sawdust, or other absorbent material to appropriately absorb your liquid waste. This will make for a cleaner emptying process.
There is no hard and fast rule on when to empty a portable toilet. This will depend on how many people are using the toilet and how quickly it is filling. Keep in mind that liquids are heavy and you will have to lift the contents to dispose of it. many people find emptying once per day is adequate though you should adjust to your personal tolerance.
When you decide to empty your toilet, remove the garbage bag or bucket liner from the toilet itself. Securely knot the bag closed and dispose of the waste in accordance with your local bylaws.
How does a portable toilet work?
A portable emergency toilet is very easy to use. In most cases there will be a bucket or other receptacle for the waste to be deposited in, a seat and lid for comfort, and a bag or liner for sanitation.
Follow instructions to place the liner appropriately. In most cases, pinning it between the bucket and toilet seat works well. Lower the toilet seat and use as you would a standard toilet.
Once your business is complete, deposit a small amount of toilet chemical into the bag and, if directed by the toilet chemical instructions, tilt your bucket to mix chemicals and liquid waste. Lower the toilet lid and you are done. Don’t forget to wash and sanitize your hands!
How to clean a portable camping toilet?
Whenever possible you want to line your toilet bucket with a sturdy garbage bag or purpose built toilet liner. These liners can be removed and replaced easily without needing to clean the entire unit.
In situations where this is not an option, you can wipe the toilet seat and the outside of the bucket down with sterile cleaners like you would a normal toilet.
If you need to clean the inside of a used toilet bucket, begin by emptying it of any remaining contents. Next use disposable cleaning cloths like paper towel or toilet paper to wipe the interior clean. Dispose of these used wipes with your human waste. Sanitize the inside of the bucket with the same materials that you were using to clean the seat and outside. Sanitize your hands thoroughly after this procedure.
What is the blue stuff in portable toilets?
Many portable toilet products, including porta potties, use powdered chemicals to maximize sanitation. Most often these chemicals Include something called biocides. Biocides help to reduce odor and limit bacteria growth.
Many portable toilet chemicals also have gelling properties to minimize the amount of spilling that happens if the toilet is jostled.
You can definitely use a portable toilet indoors. Find a stable, easy-clean piece of flooring to place it on if possible – just in case.
In situations where your normal toilet would not be available an emergency toilet can be used indoors, however, there are likely better solutions. If your plumbing is damaged but the toilet itself remains intact you can often create what is called a dry toilet within your familiar toilet bowl using garbage bags. Simply empty the bowl of water and line it with a sturdy garbage bag or toilet liner. We recommend still using absorbent materials with a dry toilet.
