Broad urban harbour with brick waterfront buildings and moored boats
SOUTH WEST ENGLAND · BRISTOL

Industrial oil & fuel tank servicesin Bristol

Britteco cleans, empties and removes commercial fuel tanks across Bristol, from the dockside estates of Avonmouth and Severn Beach to business parks in Filton and Brislington. We have already completed a 200,000-litre industrial tank clean in the city, and we also handle decommissioning, fuel polishing and waste oil collection.

Get a Quote →Call 0800 677 1155
OFTEC registeredISO 9001:2015CHAS accreditedBases in Banbury & Harrogate
We cover nationwideOur Bristol work ranges from dockside bulk storage to generator day tanks, and our crews cover the rest of the UK as well.
Tank work in Bristol

A port city built around bulk storage

Bristol is a city where very few homes burn oil. Only 0.1% of households relied on oil heating alone in the 2021 Census. The tanks that matter here belong to industry: petroleum storage on the Avonmouth docks, distribution yards along the Severnside estates, and diesel kept on site for standby generators and plant.

Royal Portbury handles around a quarter of the UK’s aviation fuel imports, which gives a sense of how much liquid fuel moves through this stretch of the estuary. Large storage at that scale builds up sludge and water over the years, and a heavily contaminated tank can block filters downstream or fail an inspection.

Our work in the city tends to be big and heavily planned. We size the crew, pumps and waste vehicles to the tank, agree permits and access with the site team, and plan the job so normal operations can carry on around us wherever possible.

  • Large bulk tanks on industrial and dockside sites
  • Generator day tanks and standby diesel storage
  • Sludge, water and diesel bug removed and disposed of
  • Redundant tanks cold cut and taken away
Local project

Work completed in Bristol

Large industrial oil storage tank being cleaned in Bristol
Case study · Bristol

200,000-litre industrial tank clean

A large-scale industrial oil tank clean in Bristol, covering a tank of about 200,000 litres.

View the Bristol case study →
How we work in Bristol

From site survey to signed-off tank

Industrial jobs in Bristol follow a clear sequence agreed with your site manager.

  1. Survey and method statementWe review the tank size, contents and access, often from drawings and photos before a visit. You then get a written method and risk assessment for your permit system.
  2. Mobilise from BanburyThe crew sets out from our Banbury base on the agreed date, with pumps, hoses and waste vehicles loaded to match the volume of fuel and sludge expected.
  3. Empty, clean and de-gasUsable fuel is decanted or transferred, then sludge and water are pumped out and the shell is cleaned. If the tank is coming out, it is de-gassed and cold cut on site.
  4. Hand back with recordsWaste leaves under Consignment Notes, and you receive a Certificate of Disposal or degassing certificate. The tank is left ready for inspection, refilling or removal.
Services in Bristol

Tank services for Bristol businesses

Ranked by what Bristol sites ask us for most often.

Tank cleaningIndustrial and bulk fuel tanks cleaned of sludge, water and sediment, up to the scale of our 200,000-litre Bristol job.Explore the service → Fuel polishingStandby diesel for data rooms, hospitals and offices filtered to clear diesel bug before a generator test fails.Explore the service → Tank removal & cold cuttingRedundant steel tanks emptied, de-gassed, cold cut and taken off dockside and factory sites.Explore the service → Tank decommissioningTanks taken out of service and certified safe when a site is sold, redeveloped or changes use.Explore the service → Waste oil disposalWaste oil, oily water and interceptor contents collected under full waste documentation.Explore the service → Underground tank removalBuried tanks at former garages and depots in older parts of the city pumped out and excavated.Explore the service → Ultrasonic thickness testingUltrasonic thickness tests on ageing steel shells to check wall loss and corrosion.Explore the service → Emergency fuel deliveryDiesel delivered 24/7 to keep generators or plant running if supply runs short.Explore the service →

Run out of heating oil or diesel in Bristol?

24/7 emergency heating oil, kerosene and diesel delivery from 100 litres, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Emergency oil delivery0800 677 1155
Rules & local risks

Storing oil near the Severn estuary

Bristol sits in the Environment Agency’s Wessex area. Much of its industrial land lies low beside the Severn estuary, and the Severnside area is protected by a flood defence scheme worth about £80 million. Tanks on these sites need to stay secure if water levels rise, and a failed bund near the estuary can let oil reach the water quickly.

Under the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001, any business holding more than 201 litres must keep it in secondary containment sized to at least 110% of the tank’s capacity. That applies to generator day tanks, IBCs and bowsers just as much as large bulk tanks. GPP2 guidance covers siting, fill points and overfill protection.

Every job ends with a paper trail. You receive Waste Transfer or Consignment Notes for the fuel and sludge we take away, and a Certificate of Disposal or degassing certificate when a tank is removed or made safe.

Areas we cover

Bristol districts and nearby towns

We work across the city and out along the Severn shore.

  • Avonmouth
  • Severn Beach
  • Portishead
  • Filton
  • Patchway
  • Kingswood
  • Bedminster
  • Brislington
  • Hengrove
Questions

Bristol tank questions

Can you clean very large industrial tanks?

Yes. We have already cleaned a tank of around 200,000 litres in Bristol. Larger jobs are planned with your site team, with extra pumping and waste capacity brought in as needed.

Our standby generator diesel has been stored for years. Is it still usable?

Stored diesel can pick up water and diesel bug, which leads to blocked filters when the generator starts. We can test and polish the fuel, clean the day tank, or remove the fuel if it is beyond saving.

Do you work on sites that need permits and inductions?

Yes. We provide method statements and risk assessments in advance and work within your permit-to-work system. Tell us your induction requirements when you book.

What paperwork will we get after a tank is removed?

You get Waste Transfer or Consignment Notes for everything taken off site and a Certificate of Disposal for the tank. If a tank is cleaned and made safe instead, we issue a degassing certificate.

Is our site at risk because it is near the estuary?

Low-lying Severnside sites are protected by flood defences, but tanks still need sound bunds and secure fittings. A condition inspection will show whether your containment meets the 110% rule and is in good order.

Nearby areas

Other areas near Bristol

We also cover the counties that surround the city.

South West EnglandGloucestershireSomersetWiltshire

Need an industrial tank cleaned in Bristol?

Send us the tank size, contents and site address. We will come back with a method and a date for the job.

Request a quote →Call 0800 677 1155
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