The facility is to be built at a brownfield site, the Padworth Railway Sidings, near Aldermaston Wharf.
” The Ecology Village will be a cornerstone of the future 25-year integrated waste management contract “
– Andy Deacon, West Berkshire council
Under the proposals, the site would house a materials recycling facility, recycling containers for residents to bring their recyclable waste, a composting facility, a municipal depot and craft workshops. The site will also house an education and visitor centre for schools and families can learn more about how recycling and waste minimisation schemes can help protect the environment.
An open day is being held at the Padworth Village Hall on May 7 to discuss plans with local residents. Andy Deacon, West Berkshire's waste and PFI project manager, said: “The Ecology Village will be a cornerstone of the future 25-year integrated waste management contract.”
West Berkshire is currently down to its final four bidders for the 28.49 million PFI contract, with Biffa, Shanks, Onyx and Waste Recycling Group all still in the running for the contract. A decision is expected on a preferred bidder by the end of this year.
The plans for the Ecology Village are also being made available on the council's website from May 7, together with an interactive comments form so that people who can't attend the Open Day can still have their say.
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West Berkshire currently recycles 17% of its waste and has a target to recycle 30% of its waste by 2005/06. The council has also been set a target of sending no more than 32,410 tonnes of waste to landfill in 2010.
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