5 Gallon Bucket Portable Compost Toilet
⚠️ Important Note for Women!!!
After testing this at home for a few days and making necessary funnel changes I can admit that as a female nurse I do not suggest this as a good hygienic solution for women. Especially if being shared by a spouse or children. Not even in an emergency situation would I suggest this for use by women that are trying to share this with others due to the high risk of cross contamination. Use this with others at your own risk!
Understanding the vast variances in female perineal anatomy and physiology is important when trying to make something like this. This is not a one size fits all approach!
Testing
My first funnel (transparent gray) is pictured below and has a 5.5” width/opening. It is a 1qt funnel and it is simply too small in diameter and fails to be a fool proof mess free 100% urine diverter. It was simply impossible for me to use the transparent 5.5” diameter funnel and not make a mess into the white bag. I do not reccomend using this small funnel for women.
The commercial grade composting toilets use a larger size urine diverter of 9” deep or larger. It is to ensure a one size fits all approach.
Final Verdict
I ended up buying this slightly larger and wider funnel.
Super QuickFill Funnel by FloTool for $4.00
It works ❤️🎉 so much better than the first funnel!
After camping for 6 nights and 7 days using this system I ❤️ it! I had access to a portable compost dump area so I was able to empty the urine as often as I wanted. The small white bags were perfect!
Desire & Need
I wanted a compact self contained portable compost toilet using what I already have on hand! So for years we have used the 5 gallon Lugaloo and it has worked great for us in our extremely compact SUV mobile camping set up where space is a rare commodity. We rarely stay in one camp location for more than 1-2 nights which means regular disposal of the lugaloo all in one use bags as they quickly fill.
With an upcoming trip where we will be in one camp location for 6 nights I needed to improve upon the lugaloo all in one bag system by making a type of composting toilet.
☢️ This system relies on frequent access to toilets/composting toilet dump station for proper disposal and emptying of the urine
Getting Started
⚠️ I did not plan this it all it just came together from a need and an idea! I already had all of the supplies except for the funnel.
- Super QuickFill Funnel by FloTool
- 5 gallon bucket
- Large container with lid
- 12 gauge wire for handle
- 14 gauge wire for neck of bottle
- 1/2” pvc pipe
- PVC cutters, wire cutters, pliers
- CRC 3-36 corrosion inhibitor
Putting it Together
I asked my friend if they had any large containers in their recycling bin that I could have! This was given to me! I originally wanted to use it for food storage protection while camping.
This funnel type is too small I do not suggest trying to use it!
I started by cutting a notch from the interior overhanging lip so that no liquid could get trapped inside when emptying.
The Handle
I suggest using galvenized wire otherwise you can try waxing the metal or using a corrosion inhibitor like CRC 3-36 after assembling and before use!
I measured out and cut 24” of 16 gauge wire and began to wrap it around the neck and make my loops. I did not measure anything beyond the piece I cut.
I measured 20.5” of the 12 gauge wire for the handle and added a 3.5” piece of 1/2” PVC pipe to make a carrying and dump handle. ⚠️ The handle should have been 1”-2” shorter in the length for a perfect fit and easy use when nested inside the bucket.
I wanted the most secure connection around the neck so I used one cut piece of 14 gauge wire at 24” and therefore there is only one point where I had to wrap the wires together . I did not want this connection point to be at one of the loops because that is where the brunt of weight is centered.
Next I cut the 14 gauge wire to span across and bend over the edge of the bucket!
The funnel sits amazingly well on the edge of the bucket and the metal wire. The wire is easy to move out of the way, with the seat removed, for quick easy access to remove the urine container.
I use a garbage bin rubber band to secure the metal wire and the plastic bag in place on the bucket.
The lugaloo lid firmly holds in place the funnel and 14 gauge cross wire.
Cleaning Spray 🌟
The star of the show hands down is this cleaning solution which is 1:1 ratio of distilled vinegar and water. So this is a 12oz bottle so I did 6oz vinegar and 6oz water! I used this to spray the urine funnel after every use and the inside of the urine bucket after emptying.
Rust
⛔️ Both wires quickly rusted when exposed to a slightly humid outdoor environment! I suggest a corrosion resistant protectant to coat it or rub a protective layer of oil on it before installing it and using it.
9/25/25: even after applying oil the metal continues to rust! I will be looking at my alternatives listed here for rust free materials.
Alternatively you could use zip ties to make this handle set up!
Worthy Mentioning
After using my funnel urine diverter I am looking at this Johnny diverter with new perspective. I don’t think the extremely low position of this diverter would work for me to offer a 100% mess free combo 5 gallon toilet system.
The Johnny compost funnel high flow drain was not available when I first set out to make my composting system a few months ago! This looks great and if I need to change things up I would definitely consider looking at this closer as a viable funnel. What I don’t like about it is that it is the identical dimensions to the $5 funnel I bought at the auto parts store and worse is that it does not fit onto the 5 gallon bucket without cutting out notches for it to attach.
If you have access to a 3D printer and software than this might be a great handle alternative.
Here is a handle I would have loved to have had the time and access to a 3D printer to have made. There is no printable file for this. It is simply an image to work off of.