Not sure where to ask this.....

I've tried searching the forum but couldn't see an answer to this, so here goes.

If we're out and about and haven't really stopped on a main site, how do we empty the toilet cassette?  We may not be on a main site, so can't do it there when we leave for home.  Once at home the van will be stored in a secure site that doesn't have facilities, so we cant do it there.

So where do we do it?  I've been racking my brains but cant for the life of me work it out!

Good question......
Rich..

Perhaps make a point of having your last stop before home on a site? I’ve heard also there are some sites that will charge a small fee to use chemical toilet facilities and water fill up without having to stay there. Maybe someone else will throw some light on where those are?.... just a thought.

I believe it is frowned upon to use public toilets.

I do get what you are saying though, and maybe a compromise would be to use a site on your last day.

I don’t suppose there’s a publication anywhere of all sites that allow you to use facilities for a small fee?

Erm a tricky question but certainly worth asking. You might be able to visit a CMC or CCC (need to show your membership card) on your way home, should oblige your request? Public toilet but mindful of causing a mess in and around the bowl/ cubicle where no water is available to rinse out cassette or clean up. If witnessed by other public user could cause disagreement or report you to local council. We have stayed at a CL site that demands use of green chemical only which may suggest no mains drainage but natural soak away in the ground (unlike the blue chemical, the green does not contain formaldehyde) but takes longer to break down the solids. I make these suggestions hoping for other comments as it would be most informative. Also I think Natural England may have a legal point of view with burial of such waste.

the C&CC allow members to do this for a fee....its a horrendous £7+ from memory...
a couple of other possibilities...
if you switch to 'environmentally friendly' cassette additives or tabs, you can use a public toilet, after all its then no different than just using that toilet....we use Lidl bio washing machine 'tabs' these days....so obviously this is flushed down a normal drain when using the washing machine at home.
secondly, how close is the storage site to home, could you pass ypur home on the way to the storage site?

edit....SNAP....good thinking, just be caeful of a messy 'bowel' area:Whistle1:
sorry, but this particular Freudian made me laugh out loud, lol...

Hmmm I’d be cautious using using ‘bio’ stuff. It’s ok down a normal drain but I am on a septic tank and should use non bio. Worth a consideration for ‘green’ loos on sites served by such tanks. I am aware however there is some debate re the bio/non bio thing and septic tanks. Important thing is to be sure whatever you use will easily breakdown.  It’s a bit more expensive, but thetford green loo satchets do the job and accepted in green sites, therefore they be ok down a normal loo. Each satchet can last 4 days in your van loo......if used very little. No way could I manage 4 days without emptying it lol......I have digressed , but will follow thread for a solution to your prob.

Rolyan wrote:I don’t suppose there’s a publication anywhere of all sites that allow you to use facilities for a small fee?

There is for France - so maybe there's a list for the UK as well???

Mr Google might know - if you can think of the right question to ask him! 

If most of your travels are in the UK, how about having a second cassette?

Take the clean one with you to the van, use one cassette, take it home leaving the second (and clean) one in the van for next time, empty the dirty one at home (maybe using bio tablets).

You could, of course, manage this with just one cassette.

As a last resort, drive home and empty the cassette with care down your own loo, use your outside tap if you have one or some receptacle to refill with water to swill clean, repeat as necessary.

Then drive to your lockup.

We have used public loos, just make sure you leave it clean. Carry water for flushing cassette in a 2 pint milk container.

In Scotland, I believe Calmac terminals have water and dump points if that helps.

What do you mean by main site. Nearly all sites now have a chemical waste however big or small.
You could take the full one home with you after putting van in storage but don't forget it when you go on your travels next time.

The closed cassette will travel safely back home from your storage facility. Carry it to the bathroom and empty it down your toilet. Rinse it a couple of times, emptying it down your toilet each time.

Get some Thetford cassette cleaner...

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And following the instructions, leave the cassette clean and fresh (and empty) for next time.

If you don't use sites with facilities, consider buying a spare cassette, because when it's full. it's full and you will be without. With a spare cassette, it really takes the pressure off (in more ways than one!)

Good grief. It’s 11 years since I first did this in New Zealand, and I’m sure it was much simpler. Or I was 11 years younger!

I was under the impression that you slipped the cassette into a thingy-me-bob and it kinda flushed and cleaned it, without much fuss. But it now sounds like I have to carry a fancy bucket of .... to somewhere and manually tip it. B&Bs are suddenly sounding more attractive!

I didn’t even know that you could (should) get sachets. I need to look these up.

The canals have elsan points. You may need a key but they are easily obtained

Can`t you stop at home to empty etc. then go to storage.?or better still as has been suggested go on a site , I empty mine every other day, never let it get full, too heavy . even CL`s and CS`s have emptying facilities, the C&CC lets you use all facilities for 3 hours, inc. showers, elsan empting etc. use to be £7 don`t know how much this year.

Rolyan wrote:Good grief.  It’s 11 years since I first did this in New Zealand, and I’m sure it was much simpler.  Or I was 11 years younger!

I was under the impression that you slipped the cassette into a thingy-me-bob and it kinda flushed and cleaned it, without much fuss.  But it now sounds like I have to carry a fancy bucket of .... to somewhere and manually tip it.  B&Bs are suddenly sounding more attractive!

I didn’t even know that you could (should) get sachets.  I need to look these up.

Reminds me of the time I took a friend to Glastonbury. She immediately decided the power points would work. So I let her plug the kettle in.  Oh! Then I said I suppose you think our sewerage will go down the drain as well. Won't it she replied. I've never let her forget it.  

Ha! Or the first night in the van in New Zealand where we decided to use the shower while wild camping. My partner went first. Then realised she had used ALL the water in the van. Had to boil water from the stream to make a cuppa.

By the way, what are CL’s and CS’s that folk keep mentioning. Sorry I can’t quote a post, my phone won’t do it for some reason.

Basically CS are club sites. They are kept to a high standard and have hard standing, electric, showers toilets and especially for you an elsan to empty your loo. A bit more upmarket than a CL which are certified location's, privately owned but are recommended by the club. They are smaller and can be just a field but most have toilets but all l think must have water and again for you a chemical waste disposal. I am a member of both clubs but prefer the caravan and motorhome club. To find any site just google campsites in the area you want to go and you'll find all the site offers you. I've just been a site near Hereford which had everything but is nothing to do with any club but on a bus route which is what l wanted.

Good question from the OP 

What are these mythical beasts referred to in some posts, “public toilets “, and where do you find them? In some places we’ve had to go into a cafe or hotel for a “cup of tea”, but really to use the facilities. Can’t see them being quite so accommodating to someone wandering in with a full cassette  

CS stands for Certified Sites which are the small 5-van sites that the C&CC use (the certified bit is they have an exemption from planning permission for these sites)
CL stands for Certified Location which are the same but under the CAMC umbrella.

Knew I'd get it wrong Paul. You can tell l don't use the CC&C site very often. Now Rolyan knows.

If I don't get the opportunity to empty the cassette before getting home, I take the lid off the sump round the back of the house and empty it in there, then use the hose to flush.....