Fixed Toilet and Mobile Restroom

There are significant differences between fixed toilets and mobile restrooms in terms of construction and usage.

Construction Aspect

The construction of fixed toilets requires government approval, and urban planning departments will consider from a long-term perspective. In many areas where toilets are needed, renovations are imminent, making it inappropriate to build fixed toilets at this time. Moreover, the construction process of fixed toilets is relatively slow, and in bustling urban areas, they may not be able to be built due to insufficient space.

Mobile restrooms, on the other hand, offer great flexibility. They can be moved as a whole and can be placed at locations with fixed or temporary needs according to actual requirements, without being restricted by factors such as impending renovations. They can quickly meet the toilet needs in different scenarios.

Structural and Compositional Aspect

Mobile restrooms are generally composed of fecal sewage storage tanks (or fecal sewage treatment devices), floor slabs, and sanitary ware. They can be classified in various ways based on structural form, mobility method, and sewage treatment method. For example, according to the mobility method, they can be divided into towed and self-propelled types; according to the sewage treatment method, they can be divided into direct-discharge, packaged, and microbial treatment types. Fixed toilets, however, usually have a fixed architectural structure, and their sewage treatment methods are relatively simple, mostly using traditional septic tanks.

Advantages Aspect

Mobile restrooms have many significant advantages. They are movable and combinable, easy to transport, and can be easily carried to any place where toilets need to be installed, and can be used repeatedly. At the same time, they occupy a small area and are not restricted by the environment and conditions, unlike fixed toilets which are limited by the site. In addition, mobile restrooms are pollution-free and water-saving, in line with environmental protection concepts. For example, in 2023, mobile toilets in the Lanzhou Yellow River Scenic Area were gradually installed and put into use, providing convenience for tourists. Although fixed toilets are stable, they are far less flexible than mobile restrooms in responding to temporary needs and site changes.