Urine Disposal... What's your method?

[One Awesome Inch]

This mainly applies to urban vandwellers as I am guessing most people away from civilization just go outside.

I started with a 7 litre laundry bottle then went up to a 10 litre aquatainer. This method is do-able... I just hate emptying the disgusting urine into a public toilet. Then I put about 3 tablespoons of bleach into the container, swish around and empty. All the while I have to use the bathroom floor as my "work area" which is none too pleasant either.

So my latest method which I have been trying for the last couple of days I have been using a 2.5 gallon bucket and Luggable Loo style toilet seat. Line the bucket with a white kitchen style garbage bag (might get two pees into this before I have to deal with it before I drive). Once done I try to get the air out of the bag then I place it into my garbage can, which is a large-ish sealed cat litter container. I might get 3 to 4 bags of urine (ew gross!)into it before emptying. I empty it on a daily basis. Certainly the biggest concern is making sure I dont get a leak because... uh-oh!

What I am trying to do is 2 things

1. Minimize the gross out factor
2. Make the process as efficient and streamline as possible.

I am trying to find the best solution keeping those two things in mind.

Ideas? What's your method of urine disposale?

 

[Almost There]

This mainly applies to urban vandwellers as I am guessing most people away from civilization just go outside.

What I am trying to do is 2 things

1. Minimize the gross out factor
2. Make the process as efficient and streamline as possible.

I am trying to find the best solution keeping those two things in mind.

Ideas? What's your method of urine disposal?

First of all, 'most' of us 'urbanites' or even real country folk don't just go pee in the bush.

For the most part, we also have toilets! The only time I use the bushes is when I'm out, way way out, in the bush hiking. Even our interior campsites in the wild are mostly equipped with thunder boxes and when they're not, we generally build/dig a temporary facility of some kind if we're staying for more than a day.

I chose a separating marine toilet and find it a whole lot less odorous than emptying a porta pottie which I did for years but maybe you'd prefer one of those, I dunno. Maybe the addition of chemicals would negate the yuck factor for you.

The c-head toilet I'm using has 1 gallon jugs for urine collection so basically it's the same method as you're using. If you're finding the urine collection 'that' "disgusting" then maybe there is something wrong. If your urine has that strong a smell that it's truly offensive then check to make sure you're not becoming dehydrated. Also, urine has a stronger odor if there are medical problems such as diabetes. 3 or 4 days of urine collection before disposal doesn't cause any gut wrenching for me which is why I'm a little concerned about why you're having such a problem.
.
You might also check around your city and find out where the  RV dump stations are located if you'd prefer to use those instead of a public bathroom for disposal purposes.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Good point on the smell, however, its smelling so bad because, when i used the 10 litre bottle, it would sit in there for about a week. Gets pretty strong! The solution to smell is to add more bleach.

Just wondering what other people do.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Even with bleach.... still gross.

 

[SternWake]

I use a 1 gallon gatorade bottle painted black. In urban areas I put it in my backpack and dump it in public toilets.

Smell is unpleasant indeed. I don't do anything about that. Sometimes I rinse out the bottle, and spray some spray cleaner in there, but even the pine scent cannot kill the unpleasantness, and can actually make it worse.

You actually get used to it.

Sometimes i save other bottles just incase I do not have somewhere to empty, but those are one time use, where as the black gatorade bottle is built much burlier and has a larger opening for Mr Happy.

 

[ahh_me2]

I just use a wide mouth 3 litre liquid laundry container, which I empty daily, usually at work.

 

[Almost There]

I suspect that when you went up in size of collection container, you caused more of a problem.

Emptying the jug every 3 or 4 days maximum will minimize the smell. Daily would be even better. The collected urine is becoming concentrated by evaporation and the uric acid is what smells. Also, I suspect that adding bleach is causing a chemical reaction.

I empty the jug at least every 4 days, then rinse with a bleach/water combination to get the jug clean and destroy odor. If you wanted to you could try using some Borax dissolved in water and let the jug sit for a couple of hours, then rinse.

Also, consider replacing the container at least every few weeks so that the uric acid in the urine doesn't have much of a chance to eat in to the plastic in the bottle. No it's not going to start to leak but it will become impossible to get the smell out.

Didn't change many baby diapers when the kids were young did ya....

 

[speedhighway46]

I use empty orange Tide bottles my wife saves for me. They are wide mouth (easy on the aim!) and hold three quarts, or so. I empty it whenever it gets close to full; but at least once ever-other-day. These jugs are easy to handle; opaque so it doesn't look gross; and have a large lid which seals effectively.

I have a trick no one has mentioned, which might help with the "smelly" factor several of you have mentioned. I don't use bleach; bleach is used for sanitizing; why would you want to sanitize a jug of pee?

Instead, i put in a capful of laundry softener into the jug. I buy the cheapest stuff I can find, usually at Walmart, their house brand. It is has heavy fragrance. The jug NEVER smells like urine. After each time I empty the jug, i put in another capful of the softener.

One last comment: "Piss Jugs" are gross enough, but do serve a purpose. Please don't leave them full, discarded at rest stops or in trash containers. That is very rude, and potentially unhealthy. Just my opinion.

Hope this helps.

Speed Gray, K8SG
Grand Rapids, MI

 

[One Awesome Inch]

I suspect that when you went up in size of collection container, you caused more of a problem.

Emptying the jug every 3 or 4 days maximum will minimize the smell. Daily would be even better. The collected urine is becoming concentrated by evaporation and the uric acid is what smells. Also, I suspect that adding bleach is causing a chemical reaction.

I empty the jug at least every 4 days, then rinse with a bleach/water combination to get the jug clean and destroy odor. If you wanted to you could try using some Borax dissolved in water and let the jug sit for a couple of hours, then rinse.

Also, consider replacing the container at least every few weeks so that the uric acid in the urine doesn't have much of a chance to eat in to the plastic in the bottle. No it's not going to start to leak but it will become impossible to get the smell out.

Didn't change many baby diapers when the kids were young did ya....

I changed MANY diapers but *always* with a nose plug. In fact I am still helping my daughter wipe her butt when she is done pooping in her potty. Did that just last night. She's 3. I should go buy another nose plug for the urine jug.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

I use empty orange Tide bottles my wife saves for me. They are wide mouth (easy on the aim!) and hold three quarts, or so. I empty it whenever it gets close to full; but at least once ever-other-day. These jugs are easy to handle; opaque so it doesn't look gross; and have a large lid which seals effectively.

I have a trick no one has mentioned, which might help with the "smelly" factor several of you have mentioned. I don't use bleach; bleach is used for sanitizing; why would you want to sanitize a jug of pee?

Instead, i put in a capful of laundry softener into the jug. I buy the cheapest stuff I can find, usually at Walmart, their house brand. It is has heavy fragrance. The jug NEVER smells like urine. After each time I empty the jug, i put in another capful of the softener.

One last comment: "Piss Jugs" are gross enough, but do serve a purpose. Please don't leave them full, discarded at rest stops or in trash containers. That is very rude, and potentially unhealthy. Just my opinion.

Hope this helps.

Speed Gray, K8SG
Grand Rapids, MI

Laundry softner is an option I have not thought of . Thanks! Bleach works and does get rid of the smell, but bleach is a rather strong smell on its own. The other thing is I am worried about wrecking clothes by dropping bits Of bleach on them. Laundry softner? No problem!

 

[highdesertranger]

I would like to expand a little on what Speedhighway said. along the interstates I8, I40, I15, and I10 in the Kalifornia deserts if you pull off at one of the ramps where there is nothing around it's pretty disgusting. literally dozen of pee bottles thrown everywhere. I am not saying anybody on this forum does this(I would be surprised) but these people are disgusting. this is one time I will not pick up trash, and I feel bad for those that do have to pick it up. another thing is common is little wads of TP. what's wrong with these people? just because it's not in their backyard they think it's ok? ugh, a**hole people. highdesertranger

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I empty my wide mouth Tide bottle discretely after dark on some patch of grass, often next to a tree. I have been using the same bottle all summer, I rinse it with water, every few days when I find myself next to a tap. I am sure any liquid soap would work to soften the smell. When I first started using mine there was a bit of tide left in it and I found that it smelt like tide every time I emptied it. I don't find it stinks, even without the tide, I try to empty it daily, sometimes if I am in a busy neighborhood I stick it in a bag until I can find a discrete place to empty otherwise I just stop along the road, wait for an opportune moment and empty it right out the door, on the side of the road in the gravel or in the grass.

 

[Reducto]

I use 1 gallon orange juice jugs. When I was city dwelling I had two, now I just have one. I put it in a small backpack and carry it into the bathroom with me when I have heavier business to take care of. Smaller containers emptied more often are definitely better smell-wise. Cheap is also good - when it gets nasty I just buy more juice, drink it, then toss the old bottle. The citrus smell masks odors for at least the first few days as well.

 

[ccbreder]

There are less and less places where van dwellers are not harassed. Piss smell in the area is one big of the reasons for that. Thank you for your help ruining things for the rest of us.

 

[Patrick46]

Pine Sol was always what I used. (much better than bleach)

Fabric softener....hmmmm.

 

[SoulRaven]

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I started with a 7 litre laundry bottle then went up to a 10 litre aquatainer... 

What I am trying to do is 2 things

1. Minimize the gross out factor
2. Make the process as efficient and streamline as possible.

I am trying to find the best solution keeping those two things in mind.

Ideas? What's your method of urine disposale?

+3 on fabric softener, only I just use an ounce at a time.

Part of your problem is that you aren't emptying the jug daily.  Urine goes rancid after a day or so (depends on temperature).  Also, unless you are supplementing with large doses of B vitamins, your urine should be gin clear (good way to tell if you are hydrated).  

So, get a small jug and empty it (at least) daily.  And unless you are in the woods, please don't empty it anywhere but into the sanitary sewer.  The place you dump might not smell today, but it will tomorrow and for the next week.  You should have no problem finding places to dump in an urban environment.

What I do:  I use a 1.4 quart laundry soap jug (I like them because they have a wide mouth, a sealing cap, and a handle) and empty it at every opportunity.  After emptying, add softener, an ounce or two of water, put cap on and shake (just leave in to add fragrance to the urine) .  Used the same 1.4 quart laundry soap jug for over a year and it smells like ...  fabric softener.

-- Spiff

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I think the problem with smell is because you keep the piss around so it has a chance to "mellow".  During the night, I pee in my bucket.  I get up in the morning, pee in my bucket, and empty the bucket.  Every morning I empty it.  If I have to pee during the day, I pee in my bucket, get out and empty it onto the grass, where people let their dogs pee.  I use the same bucket to wash my van.  Seems pretty simple to me, of course I'm a guy.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I would like to expand a little on what Speedhighway said.  along the interstates I8, I40,  I15,  and I10 in the Kalifornia deserts if you pull off at one of the ramps where there is nothing around it's pretty disgusting.  literally dozen of pee bottles thrown everywhere.  I am not saying anybody on this forum does this(I would be surprised)  but these people are disgusting.  this is one time I will not pick up trash,  and I feel bad for those that do have to pick it up.  another thing is common is little wads of TP.  what's wrong with these people?  just because it's not in their backyard they think it's ok?  ugh,  a**hole people.  highdesertranger

part of the problem and I am not advocating this kind of behavior nor do I understand why people behave this way, however I always notice how few public bathrooms are present on most highways as well as being a major problem  in cities. When I was last in the Yukon with loads and loads of open space they managed to have plenty of bathrooms along the road, in NZ almost every small town has a public washroom. Seems to me when people have to go they have to go, why not provide for the travelling public. I have stopped at rest stops where like you said there is wads and wads of TP skattered in the bushes, if the county would install a plastic loo, this problem would be solved, personally the wads of TP don't bother me as much as discarded diapers, with TP as disgusting as it looks it will dissolve after a couple of rains, those plastic diapers will hang around for a long time.

 

[Gary68]

"PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Around 1,000 gallons of sewage from a manhole in Southwest Portland leaked into the Willamette River over the weekend, officials confirmed.

The sewage flowed into the river from a stormwater outfall pipe about 3/4 a mile south of the Sellwood Bridge.

Due to increased bacteria levels in the Willamette River, people are urged to avoid contact with water in the area of Waverly Country Club until Monday afternoon."
http://koin.com/2015/11/08/1000-gallons-of-sewage-leak-into-willamette-river/

that how we do it in oregon,been that way for decades