The Checklist
Work through each item honestly - the point of a self-check is to know where you actually stand, not to talk yourself into a pass.
- Toilet. Do you have a toilet with a sealed waste container - cassette, fixed tank, or composting - rather than relying on external facilities?
- Toilet capacity. Is it large enough to hold your waste for the length of stay you are planning, without needing to empty before you leave?
- Sink. Do you have a fixed, plumbed sink (not just a portable basin) connected to a drainage system?
- Grey water capture. Does that drainage system feed into a proper holding tank rather than draining straight onto the ground?
- Grey water capacity. Is the tank large enough for your planned stay, factoring in dishes, hand washing and any shower use?
- Fresh water. Do you carry enough onboard drinking and washing water for the stay, without relying on a site tap?
- Rubbish. Do you have a sealed, dedicated container for general rubbish rather than planning to leave it on site?
Scoring Yourself Honestly
A genuinely self-contained setup passes every item above for the length of stay intended, not just for a night or two. A van that passes for a weekend can easily fail the same checklist for a week-long stay simply because tank capacity runs out - so check capacity against your actual trip length, not just whether the equipment exists.
Common Fail Points
The two items people most often assume they have covered but don't: a portable basin instead of a genuinely plumbed sink with proper drainage capture, and grey water tank capacity that is fine for a night but not for the multi-night stay they are actually planning. Both are worth double-checking before relying on self-containment to access a site.
Common Questions
Does this checklist give me an official self-containment certificate?
No. This is a practical self-check to see where your rig stands. If a site requires official certification, you will need an accredited inspection - see our guide to self-containment certification and rules for how that process works.
Does a portable toilet count as being self-contained?
Generally yes, provided it has a sealed waste container and is used properly - most self-containment standards care about function rather than whether the toilet is fixed or portable.
Can I be self-contained without a fixed sink?
Most formal self-containment standards specifically require a plumbed sink connected to a drainage system that captures grey water, not just a basin you empty by hand. If you only have a portable basin, you are unlikely to meet an official standard even if your practical waste management is sound.
How big does my waste water tank need to be?
There is no single universal figure - it depends on the specific site or scheme's requirements - but the general principle is that your tank needs to be large enough to hold everything you produce for the length of stay you intend, without needing to empty onto the ground.
What if I only fail one item on the checklist?
It depends on the site. Some are strict about every requirement, others focus mainly on toilet and waste capability. If you are relying on self-containment to access a specific site, check that site's stated requirements rather than assuming a partial pass is enough.
Find a Dump Point
Whatever your setup, use the interactive map to find a dump point to empty at, or see our guide to free camping and overnight stay rules for where self-containment actually matters most.