Food and garden waste soil compost give away in West Berkshire

Recycled food and garden waste is being given away to gardeners and farmers as soil conditioner in West Berkshire.

The collected waste is taken to the district's Padworth Lane site where it is turned into a certified soil conditioner.

The council is holding the muck heap giveaway at Padworth Lane on September 23 and 24.

People are asked to bring along their own bags/boxes, but shovels will also be provided.

It's the third such event and council officials say no appointment booking is necessary, but in order to take away the fertiliser, ID or a recent utility bill proving residency of West Berkshire is needed.

"This is a free event and demand for previous give-away events has been huge, so please expect some queues particularly at the beginning of each day," the council said. "We will be re-stocking throughout the day so there is no need to get to the site early.

"We also ask that you only collect a reasonable amount to ensure everyone has an opportunity to make use of this offer."

No commercial vehicles will be allowed in.

The public is also being offered a free roll of food bin liners.

Adrian Abbs (Lib Dem, Wash Common), executive member for climate action, recycling and biodiversity at West Berkshire Council, said: “It is a pleasure to be able to offer these two linked initiatives.

"First the 'free to collect' soil conditioner for every resident who can use it and second, helping get more food waste from the black bin into our food waste caddy.

"The reason the two are linked is that the food waste is turned into soil improver at our Padworth facility and it shows how a circular economy might emerge.

"That same conditioner is sold to local farmers who help produce our local food.

"I truly hope that these free caddy liners will further encourage the use of the weekly food waste collection service.

"It has diverted 3,398 tonnes of food waste away from disposal so far but could do so much more as 25 per cent of the black bin remains food waste.”

Dave Matthews, general manager at Veolia West Berkshire, said: "We are very proud of the quality of our soil conditioner product at Veolia West Berkshire, which is created within the Padworth facility using West Berkshire garden and food waste.

“Veolia is a global champion of ecological transformation and is excited to be offering the residents of West Berkshire the environmental and social benefits of locally produced soil conditioner free of charge.”