Scotland’s environmental watchdog has launched an investigation after a motorhome was allegedly seen dumping toilet waste on the NC500.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said they had been in touch with Highland Council and Scottish Water after a report from a member of the public last Friday.
It comes after a post on the NC500 The Dirty Truth Facebook group, where one person said they had witnessed a motorhome on the popular route empty the chemical toilet into a public drain.
A Sepa spokesperson said that emptying a toilet cassette into a public drain was a criminal offence.
The Campervan and Motorhome Professional Association said “chemical toilet waste should NEVER be emptied ANYWHERE other than a designated area at a campsite, a motorhome service point, or in your own sewage system at home”.
The Sepa spokesperson said: “Sepa received a report of human waste being dumped in a public drain on the North Coast 500 route on April 5, 2024.
“Sepa are currently reviewing the information available. We informed the local authority and Scottish Water and will continue to liaise with both parties as the investigation continues.
“Waste disposal from campervans is the responsibility of the vehicle operator and disposal in this manner is a criminal offence.
“There is a legal responsibility to ensure that waste is stored, transported and disposed of without harming the environment. Chemical toilet waste must never be disposed of into a watercourse, surface drain, the ground or groundwater.
“We would like to thank the member of the public who reported this incident and encourage anyone with concerns about a potential pollution incident to contact Sepa as soon as possible through our 24/7 Pollution Hotline.
“You can report using our online form or by calling 0800 80 70 60.”
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Van Life Matters newsletter or download the Van Life Matters App to stay up-to-date with the latest UK Van Life news, tips and advice.
1 comment
water companies dumb thousands of gallons into rivers and the sea each year and take your money and most of it goes unseen and hell kicks off this!
lets talk chemicals, farming, sheep, cattle pooing and peeing, polluting rivers and streams. Cars, tyre wear, brake dust, screen wash, planes, trains, ships, we could be here for a long time.
your house, your village, your city was built on nature.
one thing a van does over a building, it doesn’t kill the countryside, when you move its countryside is still there.
look around you, see the world, see what humans have done.