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    I Signed the Petition… But Don’t Hold Your Breath for Service Station Waste Points

    The Petition: Service Station Water & Waste Points for Vanlifers The Idea:

    A lot of vanlifers (and motorhomers, boaters, off-gridders) are signing petitions asking motorway services and petrol stations to install fresh water taps and waste disposal points. On paper, it sounds spot on — easy access, safe disposal, less fly-tipping.

    I’ll say this up front – I’m all for the petition. In fact, I’ve signed it myself so if you haven’t yet signed it pop over now and get it signed.

    Having proper waste and water points at service stations would make life on the road a damn sight easier and cleaner for everyone. Nobody enjoys doing the dodgy hedge dump or creeping round at midnight looking for a tap.

    But here’s the rub – In my humble opinion,  I don’t see it happening the way folk think. Unless the government makes it law, the big service chains aren’t going to stick their necks out. There’s no money in it for them, no matter how many signatures are on a petition. That’s the hard truth.

    The Reality:

    • Private companies run services. They’ll only install something if there’s money in it. A £20,000 grey/black waste station isn’t happening unless they can claw it back in usage fees.
    • Maintenance is the killer. Even campsites struggle to keep chemical waste points clean. Service stations already moan about blocked loos and litter — add cassette toilets to the mix and it’ll be chaos without someone paid to maintain it.
    • Low numbers vs. high cost. A motorway service might see 50,000 cars a week. How many would actually pay to dump waste? A few dozen? That’s not ROI in a company’s eyes.
    • NIMBY factor. Councils and locals already fight new aires, motorhome parks, and wild camping spots. Imagine the uproar if every services became a dumping ground for “travellers.”

    Why Government Mandate is the Only Way

    Unless it’s made mandatory, it won’t happen. Same as EV chargers: service stations didn’t fit them out of kindness, they did it because of government pressure and grants.

    With legal backing + subsidies, companies can be forced to install and maintain infrastructure.

    Without that? It’s wishful thinking, and the odd petition isn’t enough leverage.

    My Take

    • The Petition Alone Won’t Cut It. Private companies aren’t charities. They’ll ignore it unless it’s law.
    • Mandates Are Needed. Just like EV charging, waste/water points would need government regulation + funding.

    👉 So yeah — good idea, but unless Westminster says “you must,” the motorway services will keep making money off coffee and petrol, not shite tanks.

    So, where could we go from here?

    Answer: keep it local, keep it simple. Councils already run public toilets, car parks, and wash blocks. That’s the realistic ground to fight on. In fact, it is being done by some councils, and it works at Whitby main harbour car park for instance.

    The Local Council Model

    Instead of dreaming about shiny new infrastructure, bolt a solution onto what already exists:

    • Waste Point at Toilet Blocks
      Councils already pipe sewage from their public loos. All they’d need is a coded hatch or drain cover that motorhomers and vanlifers can unlock. Keep it secure, keep it basic.
    • Fresh Water Taps
      Same idea. Put a meter on it or run it off a token system, so it’s not abused for car washing. Even a £1 coin for 50 litres would cover upkeep.
    • Car Parks = Overnight Spots
      Pair it with overnight parking in council-run car parks. £5–£10 a night, clean facilities, no sneaking around. Councils make money, vans get legit stopovers.

    Community-Powered Add-ons

    • If councils drag their heels, there’s room for a DIY approach:
    • Token Clubs – A local “vanlife club” pays a small yearly fee and gets tokens or codes for disposal points. Keeps it to genuine users.
    • Co-op Facilities – Community-funded taps and drains on land offered by pubs, garages, or even farmers. Money goes into maintenance, not profit.
    • Sponsored Points – Local businesses chip in. A pub with a waste tap and water point outside suddenly has 20 vans eating Sunday dinner. Win-win.

    The Risks

    • You’ll get abuse – folk chucking all sorts of crap down drains. Needs regular checks.
    • Some councils will say “encourages travellers” and shut it down before it starts. That’s politics for you.
    • Costs are small but not nothing – someone has to own the upkeep.

    The Takeaway

    Forget motorway services – they’ll never do it unless Westminster makes them. The smart play is council facilities and community co-ops. Start small, prove it works, then spread it.

    If vanlifers want it, we need to show it’s not just dumping waste – it’s money back into towns. A pint, a fry-up, a shop run. Councils love income. Play that card, and we might actually see taps and drains where we need them.

     That’s the straight cut. No fantasy, no “wouldn’t it be nice.” Local, practical, community-backed – that’s the only way it’s getting done.

     

    This is a discussion topic, have your say I've had mine....

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