Should I buy a used porta potty for my farm instead of renting one long-term?

Question

We've got a cattle ranch about 40 miles outside of town, and during calving season we have up to 10 seasonal hands working long days. Right now, I'm renting a standard portable toilet unit that gets serviced weekly, but the monthly rental rate plus the delivery fee for each service visit is adding up fast. The unit sits on level gravel near the main barn, so truck access is no problem, but I'm wondering if it makes more sense to just buy a used one outright. I've seen a few standard units for sale locally that look decent. Has anyone here bought a used portable toilet for a farm or long-term site? What's the real cost of maintaining it yourself, like pumping and disposing of the waste legally? And how do you handle the deodorizer and cleaning between uses?

Marcus B. · Answer

Buying a used portable toilet can be cheaper than renting if you have the means to handle waste disposal and cleaning yourself, but the ongoing logistics are significant. A standard unit is a simple tank, but you become the operator. The real cost is in the waste disposal. You must hire a licensed septic hauler with a vacuum truck to pump the holding tank. They charge for the trip and the disposal fee at a wastewater treatment plant. Illegally dumping waste carries heavy fines. For 10 workers, OSHA 1926.51 requires one toilet, so one unit is sufficient. You also need to buy deodorizer, which is a chemical mix with dye and biocide, and replenish toilet paper. Most operators use a formaldehyde-free deodorizer because treatment plants restrict formaldehyde. Cleaning between uses means hosing out the interior. The used unit itself may need repairs to the door latch, vent stack, or tank. For a fixed location with easy truck access, buying could save money over several years, but you take on the hassle of scheduling service and maintaining the unit.

Should I buy a used porta potty for my farm instead of renting one long-term?

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