Newtown Road Household Waste Recycling Centre has been named the best in the country.

The Newbury waste disposal centre scooped the prestigious centre of the year award from the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC).

The award recognises local authority-operated waste facilities that demonstrate high rates of waste diversion and recycling, excel in promoting sustainability, safety, and community involvement in waste management and recycling efforts.

The awards team at LARAC said: "West Berkshire Council stood out as the winner of the HWRC award for their forward-thinking approach to recycling and reuse.

"Their introduction of a community repaint area, coffee pod, and vape recycling initiatives showcase their innovative efforts to offer more recycling options.

"Despite seeing fewer visitors, the council successfully managed an increase in materials brought to the site, reflecting their commitment to improving recycling and efficiency.

"Their focus on creating more opportunities for recycling and reuse has made a significant impact, making them a well-deserved winner this year. Congratulations."

In 2023/24, Newtown Road achieved a recycling rate of 62.7 per cent and received 112,809 visits.

A Google review score of 4.3 out of 5 stars and a 92 per cent overall satisfaction rate from a 2021 survey suggest a high level of customer approval.

Councillor Stuart Gourley, West Berkshire’s executive member for environment and highways, said: "This is an impressive accolade and very well deserved.

"We’re achieving great results at Newtown Road and the key to that success is the strong partnership between us and Veolia, along with the dedication of our staff who provide excellent customer service.

"Apart from the obvious recycling services, Newtown Road offers so much more behind the scenes and is a strong contributor to the local circular economy.

"For example, residents may not know that their ‘top tip’ is a keen collaborator with Newbury’s Community Furniture Project (CFP), which allows them to accept high-quality furniture, bric-a-brac, and bicycles, to be refurbished and sold at discounted rates or provided free of charge to those in need."

In 2023/24, Newtown Road diverted 13.5 tonnes of bicycles and 11.3 tonnes of furniture and bric-a-brac to the Community Furniture Project.

The site also has a popular community repaint section where residents can drop off unwanted paint tins, which are reused for community projects, and offers recycling points for coffee pods, vapes, batteries, and plastic pots, tubs, trays, and cartons.