In March 2008 West Berkshire Council awarded Veolia Environmental Services (UK) Plc a 25-year integrated PFI waste contract. Veolia and West Berkshire are targeting a long-term 49% recycling rate as part of a major boost to recycling in the area. The decision implements the council’s adopted municipal waste management strategy which focuses on maximising recycling and composting; it also enhances the kerbside collection of recyclables in line with requests from local residents.

The contract covers the Council’s waste collection, recycling, disposal and street cleansing services. Veolia Environmental Services will construct and operate materials recovery, waste transfer, composting and household waste recycling facilities. To fulfil the contract, Veolia Environmental Services is working with West Berkshire Council to implement an integrated waste management system to deal with the 80,000 tonnes of waste produced in the district each year. This will involve both the expansion of recycling services and investment in waste infrastructure, for which West Berkshire Council has been awarded £28.49 million by Defra in PFI credits. The council’s integrated approach means the delivery of both the expansion of recycling services and waste infrastructure investment meets the needs in West Berkshire, to the value of more than £27 million.

78% of West Berkshire's waste is currently landfilled. This is the least favourable way of disposing of waste and across the UK landfill space is running out. By 2010, councils could face fines of up to £150 per tonne of rubbish that is sent to be dumped in landfill sites over a set quota, therefore taxpayers could face an increase in council tax. To achieve our high recycling targets, new facilities are needed to process household waste. Veolia will be investing in materials recovery, waste transfer, in-vessel composting and household waste recycling facilities. These include operating a proposed new Household Waste Recycling Centre at Newtown Road in Newbury to replace the existing facility at Pinchington Lane.

A preferred site for a new waste management facility at Padworth Sidings has already
been identified by West Berkshire Council. We anticipate making a planning proposal in the early summer 2008. If planning consent is granted, the site is proposed to open in 2011 and will include an in-vessel composting facility, materials recovery facility and waste transfer station, mini household waste recycling centre and depot. With these new facilities operational, West Berkshire will be able to meet the high recycling and landfill diversion targets that have been set. It will also incorporate a visitor centre and administration block, which would allow people to see the processes and technology used to handle our waste.