Waste and Recycling Centre at Padworth Officially Opened

A key feature of the Centre, which Veolia started operating in October last year, is a composting facility which enables the fast processing of garden and food waste into high-quality compost. The technology enabled the introduction of a scheme for people to recycle their food waste through the provision of a kitchen caddy to every household in the district.

This has contributed to recycling rates in West Berkshire now reaching 46% of all waste collected and 78% of waste collected being diverted from landfill. Other features include ‘Magpie’ technology which automatically separates different types of plastic bottles which means more efficient sorting to facilitate faster reprocessing of recyclable material.

Adjacent to the composting facility is a public recycling centre where households can bring more than 20 different types of material for recycling including soil and rubble, cardboard, drinks cartons, garden waste, and wood as well as used electrical goods such as fridges, freezers, kettles, toasters, hairdryers, and so on.

A brand new education centre also opened there in July this year. Located inside the state-of-the-art facility, the education centre offers community groups of all ages an interactive, first-hand look at the world of waste, recycling and waste minimisation.

Councillor Hilary Cole said: “The Centre at Padworth is crucial to the district’s recycling programme and I’m delighted that it is proving such a success. Today was a fitting reminder of its importance to all households in the district who are doing so much to help recycling.”

Estelle Brachlianoff, Chief Executive Officer of Veolia Environmental Services said "We have a proven track record for developing and operating this type of facility. The Centre at Padworth is designed to significantly improve recycling and composting rates in West Berkshire, improve management of waste and meet the statutory targets that have been set."

Source: Veolia