Motorhome waste disposal in Norway

What Norwegian law says

• No pollution without permission. No one may do anything that risks pollution unless it is lawful (forurensningsloven section 7).
• No littering. Waste must not be emptied or left so that it spoils or harms the environment (section 28).
• Municipalities provide facilities. Each municipality must provide the facilities needed for emptying waste water from motorhomes, leisure boats and similar (section 26).

Norwegian regulations define grey water as waste water from the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, excluding toilet waste (forurensningsforskriften section 11-3 d). Visit Lofoten puts it plainly for toilets: never empty them in nature, always at a discharge point. Don’t let grey water run onto the ground, into a ditch or into a storm drain either.

Where to find dump stations

• Campsites. Visit Lofoten points to campsites. Ask at reception whether you can use the station without staying the night.
• The municipality. Since municipalities must provide facilities, the local tourist office can tell you where the nearest one is.
• Motorhome apps and maps. Entries may be added by users. Check that a station is in service before planning your route around it.

In 2020, a proposal on simplifications for motorhomes was put to the Norwegian parliament. Its sponsors pointed out that the distance between dump stations is a problem in such a long country. Plan to empty before the tank is full, especially in the north and in the mountains.

Step by step

Grey water

1. Position the vehicle so the drain valve is over the station’s grate.
2. Wear gloves, open the valve and let the tank drain completely.
3. If the station has a hose for it, rinse the tank with a little clean water.
4. Close the valve and rinse away any spills around the grate.

Cassette toilet

1. Remove the cassette through the outside hatch and carry it to the toilet disposal point.
2. Turn the spout down, empty it, and press the air vent so it flows evenly.
3. Rinse with water and empty again.
4. Add toilet fluid as directed and refit the cassette. If the station has rules about additives, follow them.

Never rinse the toilet with the drinking-water hose. If the station has separate taps for rinsing and for fresh water, keep them apart.

At a private host

Don’t empty anything at a private host’s unless it is agreed and the place is made for it. An ordinary drain or a septic tank is not necessarily designed for the contents of a camping toilet. More in staying on private land with a motorhome in Norway.