40 years of trust with Trash UK

Founded in 1999 by Chris Wood and Kirk Bahra as a maintenance company, Trash UK is now a refuse vehicle hire and repair specialist with over 80 years of combined experience and a nationwide team of mobile engineers. In fact, our own history is largely intertwined with Trash UK’s, as the original company Chris and Kirk worked for – Shelvoke Dempster – was acquired by Dennis Eagle in 1991. The pair later saw an opportunity in the market for a refuse vehicle hire business, purchased their first Dennis truck, and left Dennis Eagle to form Trash UK. Nearly three decades on, Co-Founder and Director Kirk is still working hands-on among the vehicles within the business’ workshop.  

Based in Evesham in the West Midlands, Trash UK’s growing team of 18 experts, joined by its loyal office mascot, Rex the labrador, now oversees an expanding fleet of over 90 Dennis refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) which make up the majority. “We’re seeing an increasing demand for 6x2 rear-steer RCVs with Olympus Narrow bodies,” said Ryan Price, Business Development Director, Trash UK, who has been with the business for 15 years. “This has been a consistent trend among our customers and we can’t see this changing any time soon. We work closely with Dennis Eagle to ensure our customers get exactly what they need and have become a one stop shop for their hire, repair, and maintenance requirements, even offering fleet washing to optimise the experience.”  

Driving exciting change 

The company’s journey is truly an admirable one. Focused on the future, the vehicle hire specialist recently invested in a brand-new facility to expand on its Evesham headquarters, with an additional building now sat alongside its existing fabrication unit and a freshly laid courtyard proudly displaying a diverse selection of its hire fleet. All work was completed over a 12-month period and finalised in October last year. The new building consists of six new bays for servicing and maintenance purposes, including a brake test facility, interceptor, and a separate full wash bay unit at the rear corner of the site, among other features.  

Across the entirety of Trash UK’s site, glimpses into its past line the walls of both the new and old buildings, with black and white photos featuring dustcarts throughout the ages, including a heartwarming reminder of Kirk’s origins at Shelvoke Dempster. A light and airy meeting room has also been established at the second unit, replacing the much-loved red kitchen within the fabrication facility, and a brand-new logo sits comfortably over the reception’s stairs.  

Trash UK’s drive for positive change doesn’t stop at its new facilities. At the top of this year, the business achieved ISO 45001, demonstrating its commitment to occupational health and safety and adding to its existing ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, which it works hard to maintain year-on-year. A new website was also launched last month to reflect the company’s growing ambitions and evolving direction.  

“We’re looking forward to continuing our exciting growth across the business and achieving the next level of vehicle hire and repair,” said Ryan. “The new website is a great step towards these aspirations, as is our expanding fleet, with around 10 new Dennis Eagle vehicles joining our ranks every year. As well as working to scale up our infrastructure to accommodate this, we’re also investing in the next generation, with scope for multiple apprentices to learn the skills so vital to our industry. We have three apprentices on staff at present, with another two joining early next year.” 

Delivering reliable RCVs rapidly 

With an increasing presence all over the country, Trash UK is devoted to getting customers the refuse solutions they need quickly and efficiently. Their aim is to improve fleet uptime and reduce breakdowns by providing a stellar, responsive service that puts the end user first. A significant factor in this success is their excellent relationship with Dennis Eagle.  

“We have a fantastic relationship with Trash UK that goes back over nearly four decades,” said Adam Robins, General Sales Manager, Dennis Eagle. “Now more than ever, we do everything we can to ensure their fleet stays running as it should, so they’re free to give their customers the best possible service. Our Aldridge and Manchester Service Centres are always on-hand with invaluable help at a moment's notice, ready to swiftly respond to any issues they may have.”  

With a strong, established customer base across the UK and steadfast dedication to outstanding service, Trash UK is constantly developing its offering and looking to drive real change within the spot hire industry. To learn more about what they’re able to deliver, visit their new website.