SCOTLAND’S environmental watchdog has launched an investigation after a motorhome was allegedly seen dumping toilet waste on the NC500.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said they had been in touch with Highland Council and Scottish Water after a report from a member of the public last Friday.
It comes after a post on the NC500 The Dirty Truth Facebook group, where one person said they had witnessed a motorhome on the popular route empty the chemical toilet into a public drain.
READ MORE: A few bad apples are blighting the beauty of the NC500
A Sepa spokesperson said that emptying a toilet cassette into a public drain was a criminal offence.
The Campervan and Motorhome Professional Association (Campa) says that “chemical toilet waste should NEVER be emptied ANYWHERE other than a designated area at a campsite, a motorhome service point, or in your own sewage system at home”.
The Sepa spokesperson told The National: “Sepa received a report of human waste being dumped in a public drain on the North Coast 500 route on April 5, 2024.
“Sepa are currently reviewing the information available. We informed the local authority and Scottish Water and will continue to liaise with both parties as the investigation continues.
“Waste disposal from campervans is the responsibility of the vehicle operator and disposal in this manner is a criminal offence.
“There is a legal responsibility to ensure that waste is stored, transported and disposed of without harming the environment. Chemical toilet waste must never be disposed of into a watercourse, surface drain, the ground or groundwater.
“We would like to thank the member of the public who reported this incident and encourage anyone with concerns about a potential pollution incident to contact Sepa as soon as possible through our 24/7 Pollution Hotline.
“You can report using our online form or by calling 0800 80 70 60.”
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