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Compost Toilets for Campgrounds
Composting toilets provide a great alternative to traditional, expensive septic systems at campgrounds across the U.S. They do not require any water to be used, and many models can also operate without electricity. This makes composting toilets a perfect choice for both small campgrounds and very popular ones. They are environmentally friendly, preserving the precious nutrients in our waste by safely and hygienically recycling them back into nature.
In this article, we focus on different options for bringing composting toilets to campgrounds. We also provide useful tips for campground hosts on how to manage and service composting toilets when guests are using them.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a System
To keep composting toilets odor-free, pleasant to use, and easy to maintain, several things must be considered upfront. Ask yourself:
- How many people will approximately use the composting toilet(s) on average per day?
- Are the toilet(s) at the campground used every day throughout the year, or only part-time?
- How many toilet compartments are needed at the campground, and can they all be placed side by side, or do they need to be distributed across the campground?
- Is there electricity and/or water available for ventilation and cleanup purposes?
- What kind of restroom building structure can we provide for the campers?
Determining these details is essential because composting toilets generally have a capacity limit for a certain number of people — although in many cases, capacity can be increased indefinitely (for example, by using so-called batch composting toilets). A composting toilet used by 10 people on weekends from April to September might work well with a much lighter setup compared to a system used by 100 people seven days a week, all year round.
Planning for Different Campground Sizes
Unlike conventional flush toilets, composting toilets are limited by capacity. For example, the GL 90 composting toilet is best suited for 1–3 people in full-time everyday use or up to 4–5 people in part-time use. Even though capacity can easily be extended with batch composting systems by adding spare composting containers, it must always be considered carefully. The GL 90, for instance, would not be a good fit as the only toilet for 10+ people in a campground open 365 days a year. The composting containers would fill up with solid waste too quickly, leaving insufficient time for the decomposition process to treat the waste.
Here are some suggestions for different size campgrounds.
Small Campgrounds: Simple, Effective Solutions
In smaller campgrounds (10–20 people), usually just one or two shared composting toilets are enough to avoid queues and keep the system operating smoothly. The restroom building can be a simple outhouse or another shed-like structure. Ideally, there would be underfloor space below the building to support the use of a split-system composting toilet. These composting toilets come with a porcelain toilet that looks and feels very much like a regular toilet — except it is not flushed after use. Underneath the floor is the composting unit, or units, into which all waste simply falls.
Have a look at the CF 4 and CF 8 composting toilets, for example.
A split-system composting toilet like this works very well in a small campground. The system typically requires attention or emptying only a few times a year, depending on use. Later in this article, we discuss in more detail how to manage the waste from a composting toilet in a campground setting.
Busy Campgrounds: Handling Heavy Use
When planning composting toilets for busier campgrounds with, say, 100+ guests using the toilets, even more attention must be given to the chosen system to ensure its capacity doesn’t fall short. Essentially, the composting toilet must have enough volume not only to collect, but also to compost the solid waste inside the units. (Plural is important here because no single composting toilet can handle more than a hundred people using it daily.)
For busy campgrounds, we warmly recommend choosing a batch composting toilet system. These systems allow you to easily extend capacity by using multiple additional spare containers. Have a look at the Green Toilet Lux 330 batch composting toilet, for example. This system comes with two sizable 87-gallon composting containers. However, in busy public or commercial use, it’s not uncommon to add even more containers to ensure each new batch of solids has enough time to compost fully before the container needs to be emptied and put back into use.
Managing the waste
Collecting waste is only part of the on-site waste management cycle — the waste also has to be recycled safely and ecologically. With composting toilets, it’s natural to divide waste management into solids and liquids, because almost all composting toilets separate the two in some way.
Composting Solids
True composting toilets are fundamentally designed to collect and compost solid waste within the system itself until it can be safely reused as fertilizer for non-edible plants and trees. In a campground setting, this is often easy because many campgrounds are located near natural sites with ample vegetation and land.
How long it takes for the waste to become safely reusable fertilizer depends greatly on the local climate. In warm climates, the composting process can be as fast as a few months. However, in northern states where winters are much colder, the process may take up to 12 months. Usually, the compost needs to sit for at least one full summer in northern states because the process halts when it freezes in winter. This is also why climate affects the capacity needed to treat the waste at a campground.
Learn more how to empty a composting toilet.
Managing Liquid Waste
Managing the liquid waste from a composting toilet is another story. You might be surprised to learn that 80–90% of human waste is liquid urine. An average person urinates 800–2,000 ml per day (27–68 fl oz). That’s a considerable amount of liquid to manage. For example, a busy campground of 100 people would produce 21–53 gallons of urine a day.
So, what do you do with all that liquid? The answer is: it depends.
If your local regulations (which vary by state and county) and surrounding environment (such as not having a high water table) allow for a small underground soakaway, that is the simplest solution. We also encourage using a composting toilet system that allows some of the liquid to be absorbed into the compost within the unit and evaporated through the system’s ventilation.
If liquid waste cannot be drained into a soakaway or similar, the only option is to collect it in a large underground holding tank (e.g., 1,000 gallons) or several smaller containers (e.g., 5 gallons each). The larger option is usually the only practical choice for busy campgrounds, while smaller sites may be fine with hand-carried containers.
One big advantage of composting toilets is that because they don’t use water to flush, they produce far less liquid compared to conventional systems. For example, an average flush toilet in the U.S. uses about 1.5 gallons per flush. With 100 people flushing several times a day, you could easily reach 800 gallons per day — 15–30 times more liquid than with purely waterless composting toilets. Check the math yourself.
Learn more about liquid separation with composting toilets.
Building and Layout Tips for Campground Restrooms
Building a campground restroom or washroom naturally depends on the specific site and usage. What works in one place might not work in another. Here are some general tips.
One helpful idea is to build restroom spaces side by side, with entrances on the opposite side from where the composting systems are serviced. This creates a modular structure that can easily be extended to add more compartments.
Below are illustration photos of two restroom setups: one with two toilet compartments, the other with six. These examples look like traditional outhouses inside but can just as easily be designed to include porcelain toilets and even showers.
Two-sided restroom building
For a smaller campground (10–20 people), a two-sided restroom building may be a good choice. In this illustration, there are two Green Toilet 330 composting toilet packages, each including two spare containers. When a container fills up, it’s pulled out from underneath the toilet, sealed with a lid, and set aside to finish composting. Meanwhile, the other container is put into use. The liquid waste is led into a soakaway behind the building. The amount discharged is typically very limited because a significant portion of urine gets absorbed into the solids and evaporates through the Whirlybird-powered ventilation.
Although these drawings use Green Toilet 330 systems, the same layout could work just as well with other models, such as the CF 4.
Six-sided restroom building
A busier campground needs more capacity. For example, a site serving around 60 people might use a six-compartment restroom building. Again, the illustrations show Green Toilet 330 batch systems, but other composting toilets like the CF 8 could also be used. Here, liquid waste is collected in a holding tank below the maintenance platform. Waterless urinals are also provided, which reduce the liquid load on the composting containers and add convenience for guests.
Interior Design
Ideally, the restroom building has enough underfloor space for composting units to sit directly below the toilets. This split-system design allows guests to use regular-looking porcelain toilets, which are comfortable and familiar. The two-story approach also leaves space for showers, with room underneath for a liquid holding tank and other maintenance supplies.
If there is no underfloor space available, composting units must be serviced from behind. This setup looks more like a traditional outhouse and works just as well, though it typically doesn’t allow for showers in the restroom spaces.
Helpful Tips for Campground Hosts
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If you’re unsure about the capacity needs, choose batch systems.
It’s often hard to predict exactly how many people will use the toilets. Batch composting systems are a flexible choice — you can always add more containers if usage is higher than expected, ensuring smooth operation without surprises.
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Always provide the right toiletries.
Make sure campers have access to toilet paper and hand sanitizer or a handwashing station. It’s also wise to post a small sign reminding guests not to throw anything other than toilet paper into the toilet.
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Pay close attention to ventilation.
Proper ventilation is key to an odor-free experience. A good vent pipe or a small fan helps air circulate through the system, speeding up composting and keeping the restroom pleasant.
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Keep up with regular maintenance.
Even the best composting toilet needs occasional checks. Empty containers or rotate batches when they’re full, check vent pipes for obstructions, and add bulking material (like wood shavings) as needed. A little regular care goes a long way.
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Don’t hesitate to ask for help.
If you’re in the planning stages or run into questions down the road, reach out to us. We’re happy to help you figure out the best composting toilet solution for your campground’s unique needs.
Conclusion
Composting toilets are a great alternative to traditional septic systems. They’re pleasant to use, easy to maintain, conserve water, restore nutrients to the soil, and save money. Choosing the right model based on your campground’s size and use is crucial to ensuring the system works as expected.
Don’t tackle your campground toilet project alone — contact us for help today!
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from 26 reviewsAfter years of consideration, this composting toilet was the solution. Instead of adding expense and time for a pool side bathroom, we constructed an adorable outhouse with the Green Toilet in mind. Added a solar powered exhaust fan to make the trips as comfortable as possible. We enjoy the novelty of it all and the unit is very clean with no odors.
We bought a property with a small cabin on it with a composting toilet. It was terrible! Lots of trouble, stinky etc. So I went on the hunt for a new one and found the GL90. I had my handyman install it. Actually we added a separate room on to the cabin. It turned out really cute. And the GL90 fits right in. Looks sleek and NO TROUBLE and no stink!!
We bought a 100 year old cabin with no running water and needed and indoor solution. Wife said she wouldn't stay there until she didn't have to make her way to the privy in the middle of the night.
So, after tons of research on all sorts of composting toilet models, we settled on the GL90. Since we are able to access the crawlspace below, it made sense to choose a model that gets the "mixing tub" out of the bathroom and down below. We went with installation option #2 (only seemed appropriate since it is a toilet!).The result is a toilet that looks like a toilet. And, the porcelain pedestal feels just like a traditional toilet.
Installation was straightforward and simple with the exception of the plastic tabs that the bowl gets screwed into to lock it in place. Took a few times to get it all lined up and did end up taking the oscillating tool the tabs, but it all came together and is nice a secure.
To power the fan, I added a dedicated switch powered outlet so there's never a doubt if the fan is on or not. Mounted the outlet out of the weather underneath the cabin.
I have some property off the grid. I needed waterless toilet, and I couldn’t have picked a better one! It was easy to set up, easy to use, and doesn’t smell. Even my very high maintenance kids are excited to use it!
The Green Lux toilet arrived and was very easy to set up. We built an elevated outhouse to make storage of the containers easy. We hosted a large gathering of 100+ people, and had several tell us that it was the most luxurious outhouse they have ever been in! Also, when the fan went out and the seat got cracked, they didn't even ask questions, and simply sent us new ones! We will 100% be returning customers!
I have an off grid cabin in southern Ohio. I wanted something I could install and use without having to deal with poo on a regular basis. The Tiny Pod fits my needs well. Eemeli was super helpful in answering my questions and the boxes came with most of the supplies I needed.
I did need to buy some perforated pipe, some hole saws and some pipe glue for my customized unit. I also needed to raise up the pod on to a platform I made so that the urine drain pipe would go over the bottom plate of my wall and also ro help get some downward slope for the urine drainage. Overall, I’m pleased so far.
I’m pretty skilled at do it yourself work so it was a fun project for me once I had everything planned and figured out.
I have a tiny home in Virginia that needed an upgraded bathroom. I spent a long time investigating composting toilets online and watched a lot of YouTube videos explaining how each works. I knew from experience that separating urine from solids was important for keeping the composting process odorless. The only toilet design that made sense for carefree emptying and separating was the Green Loo. Also, I didn’t want a plastic toilet but an attractive ceramic one. I decided on a Green Loo CF-4 continuous composting system. But how to get it to the East Coast? I decided it was worth paying several hundred dollars in shipping to get the Green Loo, which is only sold in the U.S. in Nevada, to the East Coast.
The toilet arrived on a huge truck that wasn’t willing to come down my dirt road and driveway, so a neighbor ended up picking the box up at the main road in his front end loader and dropping in my yard. I had a builder install it and, and despite some cussing and finessing, he got it hooked up and working in a day; some small parts (bolts and such) had been lost through a hole in the shipping box. (It wasn’t packed well for long-distance shipping). I am very pleased with the quality of the toilet, and the split system’s heavy duty plastic tank under the floor is sturdy and well made. I could tell it had been banged around a lot in shipping and aside from a few scratches it had arrived unscathed.
I used the Green Loo for a month without the fan to see if I needed it. The system worked in the sub-freezing weather; however, there was a slight odor, so I had the builder hook up the fan that came with it. Now it’s totally odor free. I plan to get the solar panel to run the fan, which is very quiet. The unit comes with a bag of Bokashi, and I ordered more Bokashi on Amazon to jump-start composting. I am using peat moss as a composting medium, but plan to switch to the more sustainably harvested coco coir. The CF-4 model is an excellent product.
Dug a 3 foot hole and filled it with lava rocks then pavered over it.
Looks and works great!!
Thank you
Installed our GL 90 compost toilet in our small cabin. It pretty simple, just remember measure twice before cutting.
The Wife and I used it for 1.5 months before I decided 5o switch the waste tank out.
I was not sure what to expect, the waste container is under the cabin. I lifted the lid just pulled it out. There was no smell no excess liquiods.
It was a very simple swap.
We installed the Green Loo 90 in our tiny house build and we couldn’t be more pleased with the final product. Because we live in a very cold climate, we had to do a creative installation to account for our extra thick floor insulation, but Eemeli at GreenLoo was incredibly helpful and gave us some great suggestions. We’re very impressed with the quality of the components and the ease of installation. When we needed a toilet seat replacement due to an overzealous delivery guy, Eemeli was right there to the rescue and had a new seat to us within a few days.
We cant recommend GreenLoo enough. it's a great product from a wonderful company with absolutely amazing customer service.
After a great deal of research, I decided on the Green Toilet Lux 120 Composting toilet for my off grid cabin. The fact that I could install a replaceable bin under the cabin's "in-house" toilet area was fantastic. The porcelain toilet is a perfect amenity - although I had to find a toilet seat to replace the one that was sent (cracked in shipping - but WTS reimbursed me to cover the costs). A rubber boot on the roof helps to keep rain out of the structure. The wind-driven fan works really well and helps keep the area ventilated. I keep a bucket full of wood mulch in the toilet area and drop 1 to 3 scoops after each use. I found some biodegradable detergent from Dr. Bronners that I mixed with water to spray down the toilet for cleaning at the end of our weekend visit. I also upgraded the provided vent pipe to a 4" pipe.
Having a usable composting toilet in the winter makes our cabin so much more habitable. Thanks for making this product availalbe!
We have been building a small, off grid hut/cabin on our Utah mountain property. We were looking to build something small, simple and low maintenance. Our power is all 12 volt solar and we carry in water. This cabin will be seasonal (no septic)so the toilet had to be simple too. Other composting toilets have too many moving parts and a low capacity. After much research we decided on the GreenLoo GL90. I love the low profile composting bins. We decided to build an attached mechanical room/outhouse/shower room and built it to suit the toilet specifically. The GL90 porcelain toilet is tall and easy to keep clean. I ordered the 12v vent fan with my kit and it works perfectly NO smell at all! I turn off the solar when we leave so I was concerned it would smell upon our returns. So far so good! We are going to install a “whirlybird” wind activated vent cap to vent in addition to the electric fan while we are away from the cabin. Install of the GL90 was a breeze and it looks great! Big thanks to the good folks at The Waterless Toilet Shop for their friendly support and expertise.. and a full line of supplies and accessories! I’m adding some photos of the Toilet and build so far!
Jim M.
Salt Lake City, UT
We built a short term rental cabin on our homestead to creat another income stream in an environmentally sustainable way. After growing up off the grid, and traveling/camping around the world, my wife and I have tried just about every composting toilet system on the market. We have even owned a few of the nicer brands, but never found one like The Green Loo. This system far exceeds the competition, and has everything we want in a composting toilet system. Most notably, it is easy and straightforward to use, easy to clean/service, and is made of quality components that are meant to last. I am a carpenter, but the installation process is simple and can be done with basic carpentry knowledge and tools. The instructions that come with the toilet are also very Clear and helpful. Ordering from the waterless toilet shop was great, Eemeli is very responsive and communicative. Eemeli helped me with my custom chute order, and when the shipping company damaged, then lost the chute, Eemeli immediately sent me a replacement. I highly recommend ordering from the Waterless Toilet Shop, they offer quality products at competitive prices and customer service and support that goes above and beyond what is customary.
We are pleased to hear of Greenloo’s expansion to Canada/US markets. We are very happy with our GL 90 maximizer composting toilet. Instructions followed make a comfortable and sophisticated toilet situation. The unit was well received (exception whirlybird fan option was slightly damaged - not Greenloo fault - aside from shipping damage we needed to remove and reinstall the fan’s interior veins as they were upside down? Just so you know).
We live in a rural area, off grid and the two of us provide the Greenloo continuous use as we live here full time. It is an excellent unit overall particularly when compared with competitor models of strange or potentially messy maintenance no one wants for sure. We dug a big hole and filled with compost from toilet for our lovely maple tree (not edible and ornamental) and it is doing great. Thank you for a great product.
The toilet I have bought 5 years ago is great. Easy to install. Easy to change storage.
Feels wonderful to sit on. Awesome having no smell in bathroom.
Good price also.
Being fully off grid and on a site with a very high water table, conventional septic tank options are not appropriate for our site, and a high energy consuming aerobic system is out of the question.
This installation is a stand alone facility we call the TajMaLoo and will be a trial run for including a Green Loo CF4 in our future container house project.
Needed dry material for my composting toilet. Fast delivery!
Who We Are
At Waterless Toilet Shop we are a dedicated team of dry toilet experts based in Henderson, Nevada. As a family-owned company with deep roots in Scandinavia and Australia, we bring a blend of global insights and local expertise to every product we create.
At Waterless Toilet Shop, we do more than just design and manufacture innovative composting toilets; we also use them daily. This hands-on experience allows us to continuously improve our products and ensure they meet the high standards of functionality and sustainability that our customers expect.
We are committed to living the eco-friendly principles we teach, making our solutions not just part of our business, but a part of our lives. Join us in embracing a more sustainable future, one flush at a time.
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