I Use a Composting Toilet in my Campervan: Here’s What I Really Think.

When I moved into my first campervan full-time in 2020, I quickly learned that every resource mattered. Water, space, and waste disposal all required careful consideration. My initial setup included a portable camping toilet, which worked but had some major drawbacks—constant emptying, unpleasant odors, and the dreaded splash-back effect at higher elevations. After a year of dealing with those headaches, I made the switch to a composting toilet. And let me tell you: I’m never going back.

I chose the Cuddy Composting Toilet, and after using it in two different campervans, I can confidently say it’s one of the best upgrades I’ve made for vanlife. If you’re considering one, here’s why I think a composting toilet—specifically the Cuddy—is worth every penny.

What is a Composting Toilet?

First off, you might be wondering what a composting toilet is.  

A composting toilet is a self-contained toilet system designed to manage waste efficiently without the need for water or chemicals. Unlike traditional RV or portable toilets, which mix liquids and solids into a single holding tank, a separating composting toilet diverts liquids (urine) into a separate container while solids are collected in a chamber with a natural medium, like coco coir or sawdust. This separation is the secret key to composting toilets, and is what helps prevent odors.

They are eco-friendly, odor-free (solids just smell like dirt!), and require far less maintenance than traditional portable toilets. They are particularly popular these days among vanlifers (👋🏻), RVers, and off-grid enthusiasts who want a sustainable and hassle-free solution to waste disposal.

How is a Composting Toilet Different from a Bucket Toilet?

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard many people say “just use a bucket!” Sure, some vanlifers opt for a basic bucket toilet, often referred to as a “Home Depot bucket toilet,” as a budget-friendly solution. But while this setup consists of a simple bucket lined with a bag and sometimes a seat attachment, it lacks the odor control, separation, and longevity of a composting toilet.

A bucket toilet collects all waste together, leading to faster odor buildup and requiring frequent disposal. Since there’s no separation of liquids and solids, urine mixing with solid waste speeds up decomposition in an undesirable way, making disposal messy and unpleasant. 

On the other hand, a composting toilet actively manages waste by separating liquids and solids, reducing smells, and allowing the solids to start breaking down. With proper ventilation and a composting medium, the solids dry out instead of festering, meaning you can go weeks between emptying rather than days.

If you want a simple emergency solution, a bucket toilet may work, but for full-time or extended vanlife, a composting toilet is a far superior choice in terms of hygiene, convenience, and sustainability.

Water-Saving: Every Drop Counts

In my first van, I had just 10 gallons of water capacity—enough to last a full week, but only if I was incredibly mindful of every drop. If you’ve lived in a van, you know that refilling water isn’t always easy, especially when boondocking for long stretches.

A composting toilet doesn’t use any water at all, which means I never have to worry about flushing away my limited supply. Even if you have a larger water tank, let’s be honest—do you really want to waste it on flushing waste? The Cuddy composting toilet ensures that every ounce of water in my van goes towards hydration, cooking, and hygiene—not flushing.

Eco-Friendly and Chemical-Free

Unlike portable camping toilets or cassette toilets, which rely on chemicals to break down waste, composting toilets use completely organic materials. I just add a composting medium like coco coir (my preference) or sawdust to the solids bin, and nature does the rest. No chemicals, no mess, no environmental guilt.

When it’s time to empty the solids bin, I can dump the contents into a compostable bag and dispose of it in a designated trash receptacle. Since the solids don’t smell, it’s pretty much like tossing a bag of dirt in the garbage. 

Of course, if I had access to a compost pile at home, I would dump the solids there. But alas, compost piles are few and far between when traveling in a campervan. At least I’m tossing something that will break down eventually instead of adding toxic chemicals to the environment… 

Space-Saving Design: Perfect Fit in Any Van

When living in a campervan, every inch of space matters. The Cuddy is incredibly compact and fit perfectly where my old camping toilet was—no modifications needed. In my second van, I didn’t have a dedicated space for it, so I just tucked it into a corner.

It’s so sleek and well-designed that it doesn’t feel like an eyesore, and because the lid is sturdy, it even doubles as an extra seat. One of these days, I’m upgrading to a bamboo lid to give it an even more polished look.

Convenience: No More Dump Stations

If you’ve ever used a traditional portable toilet, you know the struggle of constantly hunting down a dump station. When I was using a portable cassette toilet, I had to empty it every single week, which meant frequent stops and occasional stress when dump stations weren’t easy to find—or worse, closed.

One particularly nasty issue with cassette toilets is altitude pressure changes. If you’ve driven through the mountains, you might have experienced this unfortunate surprise: you open the trap door, and thanks to built-up pressure, you get splattered with whatever is inside. Disgusting, right?

With my composting toilet, I only have to empty the solids every 3-4 weeks. All I do is dump the compostable bag into an appropriate receptacle, and I’m done. No more hunting for dump stations. No more gross surprises. Just simple, hassle-free waste management.

For liquids, I empty it every few days. If I’m out on public land (away from people), I just walk away from the campsite and empty it on the ground. If I’m in the city or at a paid campground, I slip the liquid container into a reusable grocery bag and walk into a public restroom so I can empty it in the toilet. Easy pee-sey! 😉

Odor Control: Yes, It Actually Works

One of the biggest concerns people have about composting toilets is the smell. I was skeptical at first too, but I can confidently say that my Cuddy does not smell.

Traditional portable toilets start to stink even with chemicals, especially in warm weather. But because composting toilets separate liquids from solids and use natural materials for composting, there’s no odor buildup. The built-in fan and venting system in this composting toilet help keep everything dry, which means no stink, even in a small van.

Venting Your Composting Toilet

If you opt for a composting toilet with an agitator like the original Cuddy that’s made to hold solids for a longer period of time, you’ll want to ensure your toilet has a fan and is vented. If you prefer a bagging-style composting toilet like Cuddy Lite, this isn’t necessary. 

Venting your composting toilet helps with moisture control because it helps to expel excess humidity, preventing the composting medium from becoming too damp. When moisture levels rise inside the solids bin, decomposition slows, and odors can develop due to anaerobic conditions.

A properly vented composting toilet ensures constant airflow, which aids in drying out solid waste, keeping the composting medium effective, and reducing the chances of mold or bacterial buildup.

The composting toilet includes a fan that you can easily wire into a 12v system. The fan is quiet and softly blows air out of a vent on the back of the toilet. There’s even an option to externally vent Cuddy by attaching a tube and running it out of your campervan (or RV or boat or tiny house…). I didn’t find this extra step necessary, but if I stayed in warmer, humid climates more, I think this would have been needed. 

Honest Feedback: Cons of a Composting Toilet

Obviously by now you know I’m pro-composting toilet, but using one isn’t for everyone. There are some cons that some might consider deal breakers, although I found the pros greatly outweighed them. 

• Moisture: If your composting toilet is vented properly, this shouldn’t be a problem. However, I did notice that when it was really hot, or really humid (or both) outside that moisture would build up quicker in the solids bin. This just meant I would  need to add more organic matter and empty the solids bin sooner than usual. 
• Flies: Yup, gross. It happens. Luckily, Cuddy has a privacy cover on the solids bin and a screen over the vent so flies are less likely to get in. I did have a few instances (usually when it was hot and muggy) where flies got into the solids bin and even laid eggs. I was able to manage it by adding diatomaceous earth to the organic matter when the weather was optimal for flies.
• Emptying the solids bin: Honestly, it’s very easy and usually just looks and smells like dirt. But sometimes when it’s hot and humid (see a trend here?) you may notice a few pieces of poo as you empty the bin into your bag for disposal. If you’ve ever pooped in a hole in the woods, it’s a better experience than that… but if you have a weak stomach around human waste, this might gross you out. 
• It’s personal: A portable composting toilet is small, and when you’re having to empty it yourself (vs. a composting toilet in a house with external tanks or a pit composting toilet you see in some national parks), you might not want anyone else’s “waste”  in with yours as you’re dumping the solids into a bag. Also, if you plan to use it with a travel partner, keep in mind you’ll have to empty it more often. 

Using a composting toilet definitely requires a learning curve, but I found it to be the best solution for my lifestyle and needs. 

Final Thoughts: A Vanlife Must-Have

Switching to a composting toilet was one of the best decisions I’ve made for full-time vanlife. The Cuddy Composting Toilet has made waste management easier, cleaner, and more sustainable, all while saving space and water. If you’re on the fence about getting one, I can’t recommend it enough—once you make the switch, you’ll never go back.

Learn more about Cuddy composting toilets here.