Soil conditioner giveaway returns

West Berkshire Council is teaming up with Veolia for the fourth time to provide residents with an exciting giveaway - free soil conditioner!

Mark your calendars for Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March, between 10:00am and 4:00pm where you will be able to swing by our Padworth Waste Management Facility at Padworth Lane, RG7 4JF, and grab some locally produced soil conditioner.

Wondering what makes this soil conditioner special? It's created right here at Padworth, using the food and garden waste we collect from you and other households in the district.

For the giveaway weekend, no appointment is needed, just show up! But do bring along an ID card or a recent utility bill to prove you're a West Berkshire resident. Please bring your own bags or boxes so you can easily carry and load the bagged or boxed soil conditioner into your car - no direct loading into vehicles for health and safety reasons.

This is a free event, and some queues are likely during peak times. Please be patient when you arrive as we aim to allow as many people as possible to collect the soil. We'll be restocking throughout the day, so there's no rush to arrive early. Also, let's be fair - we ask residents to take a reasonable amount to make sure everyone gets a chance to enjoy this fantastic offer.

In addition, there will be recycling collection points on site for old or unwanted vapes, batteries and small electricals, meaning you can maximise your visit. It's a win-win for the community and the environment.

Cllr Stuart Gourley, Executive Member for Climate Action, Recycling and Biodiversity at West Berkshire Council, said:

"We are excited to be able to support another soil conditioner giveaway event for our residents as this event is always very popular. It's great to see this sustainable product which is made from the contents of our food caddies and garden waste bins being put to good use on residents' gardens and allotments here in West Berkshire."

Dave Matthews, General Manager at Veolia West Berkshire, said:

"Veolia West Berkshire is pleased to be offering the free soil conditioner to residents again this year.

"We are proud of the quality of our soil conditioner product created within the Padworth facility using garden and food waste collected from households within West Berkshire.

"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." 

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to give your garden a boost and contribute to sustainable waste management!

Please note there will be vehicle restrictions in place. Vehicles listed as prohibited in the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) user guide (see page 12) will not be allowed. No commercial vehicles will be admitted - this is for householders only. Residents must take necessary precautions for carrying the soil conditioner safely to their vehicle. The event organisers accept no liability for any injuries or damage that may be sustained by residents loading their vehicles with the materials. Residents wishing to visit the household waste recycling centre must still book an appointment.