Going separate ways with the new Thetford eco toilet
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Alternatives to the traditional chemical toilet are on the rise, and the latest company to join the foray is Thetford, so we stopped by the company’s stand at the NEC last month to delve into its system.
While a separation toilet may not suit everyone, it’s great for anyone who spends more time off-grid and for those who don’t like to use chemicals in a conventional set-up. And, because this is based on Thetford’s most popular toilets, it is available to more people without having to consider a complicated toilet swap project.
Rachel Scholes Content Editor: Motorhomes
Rachel Scholes Content Editor: Motorhomes
As you may already be aware, Thetford now offers a separation toilet. This is available to motorhome and campervan manufacturers and now also DIY campervan converters. However, there is also a kit to convert two of Thetford’s most common toilets into a separation kit.
The full monty in terms of a whole new toilet involves the S220-S and the S260-S, also available as CS models, too. Prices are around £600 for the 220 with manual level indicator and £630 for the 260 model with an electric indicator. There are also kits to convert the C220 and C260 chemical cassette toilets into separation toilets.
Thetford picked these two models as they are currently the most popular, so the conversion kit allows many people to consider the idea of a separation toilet.
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What is a separation toilet, and why does it matter?
We’ve all felt the pong of a whiffy toilet and those smells are mostly brought about by the mixture of the two types of materials we produce. These two things mixed together create ammonia and other smells and, while the use of chemicals can help break the contents of a toilet tank down, it’s fair to say that a big part of their job is to reduce the smells emitted.
And that’s where a separator toilet comes in; the two types of waste are kept apart. Moisture makes solids smell for longer, so combining the waste will prolong odours, but treating with a drying agent and separating the waste, without using additives, can help.
The separator toilet from Thetford has a bowl for the fluids in the front – these run along a pipe and into the liquids tank.
It’s useful to note here that, unlike a normal chemical toilet, the separator version could actually still be used for number ones while the tank is being emptied as the pipe is airtight and therefore the liquids stay in the tube until the cassette is reconnected.
The liquids tank has a level indicator.
At the back of this toilet is a flap for the solids. This can actually be left closed and the weight of material will cause the flap to open. Or it can be opened manually with a lever on the side.
On the upgrade kits, the handle can be positioned on the left or the right depending on the orientation of the toilet.
The solids container is a bucket – pop a liner bag in it and all you need to do is cover the material with a little sawdust through the open flap, which is used to absorb moisture and lessen the risks of smell.
Both buckets are made of recycled plastics and each have a 7.5-litre capacity.
However, because they come in two and are smaller, the emptying process should be easier and there’s no need to wheel a heavy cassette down gravel campsite roads or across rough ground to the emptying point.
Emptying a separation toilet
Let’s talk about disposal, one of the most contentious topics. The team at Thetford confirmed previous advice about disposing the solid waste in a bin was still correct. Thetford’s advice is to treat it like nappy waste.
After consulting both Clubs and other sites groups, we can confirm that bagged solids should be disposed of with normal household waste – the black bins in most areas. The liquids can be emptied into any normal toilet.
How to fit the Thetford SK220 or 260 to an existing toilet
In terms of fitting the new kit to an existing cassette toilet, there are a couple of extra things to be aware of. For those that are plumbed into the existing water supply, there is a bung to cap off the flush water. The kit also comes with a blanking plate for where the flush button is; most electric flush toilet mechanisms can be simply disconnected as they are designed to be ‘plug and play’.
This is a relatively simple job, but the retainer for the old cassette hatch needs to be removed and a small section of plastic needs to be cut away for hygiene reasons. For that reason, you won’t be able to switch back to the normal chemical version once this has been done.
Upgrades and maintenance items for a Thetford Separation Toilet
While these products are low in maintenance, with no electrics or plumbing to worry about, you still need to give the system a little TLC.
Prevent scale/calcium build-up
Tanks will get calcium or scale build-up, particularly in the liquids tank. That’s why the Separation Toilet Urine Tank Fresh needs using twice a year.
Keeping the toilet bowl scale free
There is also the Separation Toilet Bowl Cleaner to help with calcium residue in the bowl, but Thetford tells us it doesn’t need to be used each time.
Adding a vent kit
If you are away for a while, there’s also a vent kit for the locker door to help remove any possible unpleasant odours between empties. It just needs one small circle cutting in the door...
Waste bucket liners
Recycled plastic bags for the solid waste, these 50cm by 70cm holders come in a roll of 20 with an RRP of around £5.
Drying agent
Designed to remove moisture from solids, and hence reducing the risk of odours, this wood-fibre material comes in a pack that provides around 90 doses. RRP £8.50.
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