THE Durham office of environmental consultancy RPS has won its second research and development contract with Premier Waste Management.

RPS is assessing a new product made from household waste which could be used as a conditioner to improve the water and nutrient retention of soil.

Premier is a UK leader in waste management strategies and solutions to reduce the need for landfill.

It runs an aerobic digester at Thornley Station, County Durham, funded by County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT), which is the first full-scale plant of its type in the country.

The digester converts the organic material in household rubbish - about 50 per cent of the average wheelie bin - into a compost-like material.

Research is being carried out to ensure material complies with Environment Agency regulations for soil additives.

Premier has begun a three-year research and development programme with RPS as project managers.

Dr Gary Doubleday, of RPS, said: "Initial results for the product look promising.

"This stage will be completed in November, when we finish reviewing the data from greenhouse trials and the newly established field trials."

The product is combined with discarded mineral materials such as crushed building rubble and quarry discard, which would also otherwise go to landfill, to create top soil.