Home composting

Soil conditioner give-away

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

Mark your calendars for Saturday 4 October and Sunday 5 October 2025, between 10am and 4pm when you will be able to swing by and grab some locally produced soil conditioner from our Padworth Integrated Waste Management Facility at Padworth Lane, RG7 4JF.

For the giveaway weekend, no appointment is necessary, just show up! Please bring proof of address such as an ID card or recent utility bill to prove you're a West Berkshire resident. The soil conditioner will be provided loose and we will not be providing bags/boxes, so please bring your own so you can easily carry and load the soil conditioner into your car. There will be no direct loading into vehicles for health and safety reasons. Residents wishing to visit the household waste recycling centre must still book an appointment.

This is a free event, and some queues are likely during peak times. We'll be restocking throughout the day, so there's no rush to arrive early. To reduce queuing times, we ask residents to take a reasonable amount to make sure everyone gets a chance to enjoy this fantastic offer. Veolia will be responsible for managing this on the day.

Please note there will be vehicle restrictions in place. Vehicles listed as prohibited in the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) user guide [5MB] (see page 8) 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.

Benefits of composting at home

1. Reduce waste and save money

• composting diverts food and garden waste from your black bin saving vital space for non-recyclable items
• it's a free alternative to paid garden waste services, turning your waste into a valuable resource

2. Create free fertiliser

• compost is rich in nutrients and improves soil structure, moisture retention, and plant health
• use it in your garden beds, pots, or as mulch - no need to buy chemical fertilisers

3. Help the environment

• it supports biodiversity by improving soil health and feeding beneficial organisms

4. Easy to start

• you can compost using a bin, a pile, or even trench composting directly in your garden
• West Berkshire residents can buy compost bins from the Get Composting website

Recycle Now provide great tips and useful advice to get your compost bin started.
 

Join the movement

By composting at home, you're helping West Berkshire become greener and more self-sufficient. Whether you have a large garden or a small patio, there's a composting method that can work for you.

Let's turn waste into something wonderful, right in your own backyard.