When you’re buying or renting a camper van (also known as a class B RV), you may want to put a portable toilet in it for convenience, or some options come with a toilet. With regular use, you’ll have to dump the toilet out. It’s important to follow laws and be aware of your environmental impact so that you can dump it safely and ethically.  

In this article, we’ll detail everything you should know about emptying camper van toilets, from step-by-step instructions to the pros and cons of different disposal options. By the end, you’ll be prepared with the information you need to know before your trip or securing a class B RV rental. 

Where Can I Empty a Campervan Toilet?

The best places to empty camper van toilets are chemical disposal points (CDPs), home hazardous waste disposal points, or RV dump stations. These disposal points are designed to safely and ethically get rid of waste while minimizing environmental or health impacts. 

To locate one in your area, you could search for terms like “chemical disposal point near me” or “camper van waste disposal near me.” You may also want to search for this ahead of your trip to plan your route and make sure you’ll be near one when you need to dump your van toilet’s holding tank. Many campsites also have RV dump stations that are easily accessible.

Where Do You Empty a Portable Camping Toilet?

Just like with an externally plumbed toilet in a camper van, if you were to bring a portable camping toilet to use in your vehicle, you’d want to locate a chemical disposal point or RV dump station to dispose of waste safely. Most campsites will have locations on site where you can do it or guidelines for how to find a place to dump RV waste in the nearby area. 

Can You Empty the Caravan Toilet at Home?

You can empty portable, cassette, or composting toilets for caravans or camper vans at home. It’s just like any other waste that you’d flush down your home toilet. However, depending on the type of toilet you have, it can be a bit messy to empty it out, so it’s often better to empty it at dedicated disposal points when you can to avoid messing up your home’s bathroom. 

Also, if you empty it at home, make sure you flush a little bit of the waste down at a time to avoid clogging your home’s toilet. 

Can I Empty the Chemical Toilet at Home?

Toilets that use chemicals like glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde shouldn’t be emptied into a normal flush toilet, as doing so will cause issues with your home plumbing system. So, any toilets that have those types of chemicals must be dumped at a chemical disposal point to safely get rid of the contents. 

Can You Empty a Caravan Toilet in a Public Toilet?

You can also empty portable caravan or camper van toilets in public toilets as long as they don’t contain harmful chemicals for flush toilet plumbing systems. The waste will flush down normally. 

That said, as with emptying it at home, it could get messy, so emptying it in a public bathroom that others use isn’t always the best idea. If you go this route, make sure you’re careful, sanitary and clean up thoroughly after yourself. Here’s more about how to use bathroom in a campervan.

Usually, going to a chemical disposal point will be the better option whenever possible. 

How To Empty a Camper Van Toilet

When you get to a chemical disposal point, here’s the process you’ll take to empty your camper van’s toilet:

1. Place your portable toilet or the toilet’s holding tank near the waste disposal spot. 
2. Open the cap on the toilet’s holding tank and rotate the pour spout out. 
3. Pour the waste from the tank down the disposal site’s drain. 
4. Once empty, use a cleaning solution and toilet scrubber to clean the tank. 
5. Reattach the holding tank to your toilet. 

Do You Really Need a Toilet in a Camper Van?

Some van lifers prefer not to have a toilet in their vehicle because they have to plan around dumping an RV toilet with holding tanks. Plus, emptying the holding tank can be gross. So, if you think it’ll be a nuisance taking time to empty and clean the toilet, many get away just fine using public restrooms or using leave-no-trace principles while camping. 

Our vehicles at Escape Camper Vans don’t have toilets, and many of our customers say they prefer them that way since they’re easier to manage. So, be mindful that there are pros and cons to putting a portable toilet in your van compared to just using other resources around you. 

Rent a Camper Van at Escape Camper Vans

When you need a reliable vehicle for your next trip, Escape Camper Vans is a great option. Some of the features our vans offer are:

• Queen size beds
• Refrigerator
• Foldaway benches and tables
• Sink with a water tank
• Propane stove
• Extra storage
• Bucket seats that you don’t need to collapse to make your bed

We aim to make our vans easy to use and manage for the average person who wants to get out on the road. Reserve yours today at one of our 11 locations across the U.S., or contact us with any questions.