Kolonihave (DK) / koloniträdgård (SE) / siirtolapuutarha (FI) — garden associations in Scandinavian countries, a northern variant of the same phenomenon known in France as jardins familiaux and in Germany as Kleingärten. In Denmark, there are about 40,000 plots organized under the Kolonihaveforbundet federation. In Sweden, the same concept is coordinated by the Koloniträdgårdsförbundet federation, and in Finland by Siirtolapuutarhaliitto, while in Norway, the term kolonihage is used. The legal framework varies by country, but the common practical issue for participants is the toilet in the garden shed, which is not connected to the sewage system. Below is how to install a waterless urinal in a Scandinavian garden allotment so that it works long-term and remains within the legal framework.
What the Garden Association Law and Regulations Allow
In Denmark, the framework is set by the Kolonihaveloven (Law on Garden Allotments, LBK) — a law on garden associations, effective in the consolidated act version. The law secures the status of permanent garden allotment areas and prohibits municipalities from arbitrarily eliminating such plots. Within individual associations, household rules are regulated by the statute (vedtægt), which in most cases explicitly prohibits permanent sewage connections and permanent water supply to the garden shed. The typical size of a garden shed is 25–30 m², and building permits are issued under this limit, with any additional square footage deducted from usable space. In Sweden, Koloniträdgårdsförbundet and in Finland, Siirtolapuutarhaliitto adhere to a similar model: a garden shed without sewage, without central water supply, with compact interior space. This does not mean a ban on toilets — it means the toilet must operate without water and sewage. Composting toilets, separating toilets (with separate urine collection), and waterless urinals fall into a category explicitly approved by relevant federations and most regulations.
Why Separate Collection
The source of odor in a toilet is the ammonia reaction that occurs when urine comes into contact with feces. A separating toilet eliminates this reaction: urine goes into one container, feces with wood chips or coconut filler into another. This is not biochemistry but the physics of flow separation. The Scandinavian market for composting and separating toilets is shaped by brands like Separett (SE), Biolan (FI), Kildwick, Trelino. Pi-Pi Standard and Standard+ are wall-mounted urinals added to these toilets for standing users.
What You Need for Installation
Minimum set: Pi-Pi urinal, 2 screws into the garden shed wall, a 10–20-liter canister for collection, a piece of 32 mm garden hose for connection to a stepped fitting Ø24/32/40 mm. A regular garden hose fits without adapters. Installation takes 15–30 minutes, no plumber needed. The urinal weighs 1.4–1.5 kg — senior members of the association, for whom the garden plot is often the main circle of social activity, can install it themselves without assistance.
Where to Dispose of Collected Urine — Emptying and Maintenance
Three working options, all compatible with the typical statute. First: dilute 1:10 with water and use for watering tomatoes, zucchinis, ornamental plants — urine contains 88% available nitrogen and 66% phosphorus, making it a complete fertilizer, long known in Scandinavian permaculture. Second: mix with wood chips 6:1 for communal composting of the association — nitrogen binds with carbon, no odor forms, and the association encourages communal composting. Third: a sealed canister with periodic removal by a licensed household waste operator — for those not working with compost. None of the options involve discharge into open water bodies or directly into untreated soil.
Winter Storage
Garden sheds in Denmark, Sweden, and Finland are predominantly unheated — the law and association regulations explicitly prohibit permanent year-round residence. Winter temperatures in the continental zones of Sweden and Finland regularly drop to −25…−30°C. Pi-Pi made from LLDPE remains flexible down to −30°C — the material does not crack in winter, unlike polypropylene counterparts from marketplaces, which become brittle at −20°C. Winter preparation involves one action: drain water from the hose and canister to prevent ice from bursting the container. The urinal itself does not require dismounting and withstands winter on the garden shed wall without consequences.
What the Association Says
Kolonihaveforbundet, Koloniträdgårdsförbundet, and Siirtolapuutarhaliitto in standard regulations consider separating toilets as a standard and approved solution. Pi-Pi combined with a composting toilet or separate canister falls into the same category. The main things the association board checks during the annual plot inspection: no permanent sewage connection, no fecal odor, and tidy composting. Separate collection addresses all three points.
What Not to Do
Do not connect water to the urinal — Pi-Pi operates waterlessly, and in a garden association, this is not a limitation but compliance with regulations. Do not direct drainage into open soil without dilution — concentrated urine harms the soil and violates the association's soil protection rules. Do not use chemical disinfectants in the canister — they disrupt composting and are unnecessary with separate collection.
Conclusion
A waterless urinal in a Scandinavian garden association is a viable solution within the framework of Danish garden allotment law and the regulations of the Kolonihaveforbundet, Koloniträdgårdsförbundet, and Siirtolapuutarhaliitto federations. Pi-Pi handles the "standing male" scenario, which overfills the liquid compartment of any separating toilet. Standard and Standard+ with a 70 mm vent port, delivery to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland in 3–7 working days. For compatibility with specific Separett, Biolan, Kildwick, or Trelino models, check the compatibility pages — they detail how the drainage connects. Questions — by email.
