A west Wiltshire firm has been handed a contract to help Malta wise up to waste following its accession to the EU in May.

Environmental consultancy SLR, which has an office in Bradford-on-Avon, won an international tender to help Malta get their waste disposal techniques up to the EU standards.

The company, in association with Maltese consulting partner AIS Environmental, has already provided waste management consultancy services to the Maltese government on a variety of large projects.

It has been working for them for the last 18 months and has earned an additional contract to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a new composting and materials recovery facility.

SLR consulting has carried out EIAs for other waste facilities, including a non-hazardous and hazardous landfill, a hazardous treatment and storage area, and a transfer station and civic amenity site on Malta's neighbouring island of Gozo.

The work has been commissioned by WasteServ Malta Ltd, which is responsible for the waste management services on behalf of the Maltese Government.

The site will sort waste that will be processed to produce good quality compost for local use. An additional facility for dry recyclable materials will also be developed.

WasteServ chief executive officer Vince Magri, said: "The new facility will make an important contribution to our target to reduce landfilling waste in accordance with EU directives and will also improve the island's recycling rates."

SLR director Ian Roberts said: "Malta has been quick to develop new waste processing facilities following its accession to the EU. Our continued involvement in implementing its waste plans demonstrates SLR's experience in the planning, permitting, design and construction of waste facilitites."

SLR is a multi disciplinary consultancy providing world wide environmental sciences and engineering expertise from a network of offices in the UK and USA.