Where portable toilets first began

The history of portable toilets might not be your first thought when you take advantage of them at an outdoor festival or event; however, it is interesting to know just how far portable toilets have come over the years. 

Today, at outdoor events and shows and even on construction sites, site toilets and portable toilets have become almost part of the furniture.  Expected to be provided when there is no indoor alternative, portable toilets have almost made themselves a necessity in today’s world. 

However, before this, what did we do? 

Find an outhouse, a tree, or a bush hidden out of the way? 

What portable toilets and site toilet hire have brought to the ring is convenience—providing accessible plumbing to the outdoors! 

From construction sites to festivals, portable toilets have firmly established themselves within our world. 

Available to us for over 60 years, portable toilets have continued to grow in popularity year on year.  

But what is a portable toilet? 

A portable toilet is just that, a toilet that can be easily moved from one location to another.  Typically, considered self-contained units that hold human waste in a sanitised tank, which is then removed by professionals. 

As well as standard portable toilets, you will now find luxury toilet trailers, site accommodation facilities, accessible toilet facilities, and more. 

Taking a toilet back in time 

The first-ever portable toilet in existence is thought to be dated back to the 6th-century chamber pot!  Made out of clay, pottery, tin, stoneware, or other materials at the time – probably not the most comfortable or hygienic we would imagine! 

We then move onto the 14th-century Egyptian portable toilet, where a wooden stool with a hole in the middle was found by archaeologists and deemed a toilet facility during these times. 

Then, fortunately, along came the 1940’s up until the 1980s, and we officially welcome portable toilets. 

During the 1940s, portable toilets were necessary during the world wars, where toilets needed to be erected on military bases to meet soldiers and recruits’ basic needs. 

Originally made from wood, the structure and design of the portable toilet then are not too dissimilar to what we see today. 

From here, the need for site toilets rose rapidly, manufacturing these units from metal and even fiberglass! 

Portable toilets were, and still are, very simple structures, typically made with massive plastic walls, wooden or metal floors, and a plastic toilet inside. 

However, these toilets were still very small, and believe it or not, unsanitary, with some dreadful smells leaking out. 

However, by the 1980s, the manufacturing of portable toilets was carried out using lightweight, much more suitable plastic. 

Portable toilets today 

Portable toilets are lightweight and easy to move from one location to another, and now you will also find a range of site toilets in a variety of styles, sizes, and accessibility options. 

However, one of the best improvements and benefits developed over the years…. We now have much better hygiene levels!  Now you will find a working flush, hand sanitiser, toilet roll, and toilet roll holders, and more! 

Today portable toilets are easy to clean and transport.  With white translucent roofs that let in much needed natural light, you will also find non-slip flooring to prevent accidents from occurring, a well-designed ventilation system to remove bad odours, and increased sanitation. 

Site toilets you can rely on 

At Addplant, we also use a range of environmentally friendly chemicals to keep bad odours to a minimum, ensuring that all surfaces are cleaned and thoroughly sanitised. 

Designed to offer you a clean, private space where plumbing is not necessary, if you’re looking to hire a portable site toilet for your construction project or outdoor event, Addplant can help. 

We have a range of site toilets to choose from, from standard portable toilets, urinals, luxury toilet trailers, and more.  We also offer regular servicing and maintenance, meeting all health and safety requirements and standards. 

For further information and your questions answered, call us on 01482 867 227.

Find out more here!