Sustainability from the start
In 1992, Steve and Jackie Richards identified an opportunity and explored it with grounded thinking. Steve brought experience from the gas industry, shaped during his time in the Army. Jackie continued to work, so between long shifts, home life, and shared conversations, the logistics of portable toilet hire began to take shape.
Following tireless research, they secured their first waste carrier licence issued by the Environment Agency, allowing collections and transport to be carried out as part of everyday business operations.
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust: A Five Year Strategy 2025 to 2030
The business began with an order of ten portable toilet units and a small van fitted with a pump unit. Starting small helped everything stay manageable. It allowed time to learn, improve, and grow at a steady pace while keeping materials in good condition and operations simple.
As more people came on board, the business expanded from ten units to forty, and then to one hundred. Each stage of growth reflected thoughtful use, cleaner working habits, and respect for the places and communities served. Growth followed determination, and reputation spread steadily. In the early years, everything earned went straight back into building the business, while family life stayed front and centre.
There’s a long standing respect for our region’s healthy waterways. Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) is an independent environmental charity (Registered Charity No. 1154348), proudly part of the Rivers Trust movement, and passionately committed to protecting and restoring the rivers and streams of the Bristol Avon catchment.
The Trust was founded in March 2012 with a passionate mission: to create a clear, healthy, and thriving future for our rivers – restoring life, connecting communities, and protecting these vital blue arteries for generations to come.
Rivers connect habitats, support migration routes for aquatic and terrestrial species, and bring communities together through shared appreciation of the natural environment. This understanding shapes how local surroundings are treated, with care, reduced footprint thinking, and balanced material choices guiding daily operations.
From the very start, Burnham Portable Toilet Hire grew their business around water-kind, ethical and sustainable habits. Making smart choices, repurposing materials, and using what was already there felt natural and practical. This approach worked from a budget perspective and was rooted in proactive customer care. The focus was always on doing a solid job, maintaining equipment properly, and getting the most out of everything used.
Decisions remain practical and eco-conscious, equipment is chosen on green values wherever possible, and everyday working habits stayed clean and organised. As development continues and demand increases, our future approach favours practical solutions that deliver real, lasting benefits for both people and the environment.
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