How often should portable toilets be emptied?

How often should portable toilets be emptied?

It depends on:

  • the tank size
  • where it is being used
  • any overriding rules of the location

Commercial building sites:

  • serviced between every one to two weeks
  • servicing involves emptying the toilet and cleaning the cabin
  • if servicing less often than two weeks, the cabin should be cleaned in between

Minimal usage and correct toilet treatments:

  • may not need to be emptied as regularly

On a farm:

  • may only be emptied every 6 or 12 months

Main consideration:

  • ensure that the waste in the waste tank doesn't dry out
  • if it does dry out, it becomes extremely difficult to remove and can't be re-wet

Servicing:

  • Often the waste tank has a much larger tank than the water tank size
  • The water tank may need to be refilled with water tank multiple times before the waste tank is filled
  • Overall, you can empty a portable toilet as often as you'd like

Contractor's schedule:

  • if in a remote area, may have to work in with the local contractor's schedule

No downside to emptying the toilet less regularly as long as the waste is treated - people are concerned - will it smell?

Toilet smell:

  • as long as the waste has water coverage and chemical treatment added, there is no need for the toilet to smell
  • keep up an active chemical
  • a very low usage toilet may need to have more chemical added regularly

At an event, a festival:

  • some portable toilets are emptied every few hours

So, there is no one answer to how often a portable toilet should be emptied.

Last updated on 26th July 2025

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