Wellington, Aug 26 NZPA - A disposable nappy composting facility in Wellington is one step closer today after the Government announced it will fund a $30,000 feasibility study.

Environment Minister Nick Smith said the grant, from the Government's waste minimisation fund, would be used to look at setting up a facility in the Wellington area.

A similar site in Balcairn, Canterbury, processes around 15,000 nappies a day.

"Many New Zealand parents like me have embraced the convenience of disposable nappies but get the environmental guilts over the volume of waste generated," Dr Smith said.

The composting facility had been a success in Canterbury and provided an important service to parents, he said.

The feasibility study would take eight months and Dr Smith said he hoped to see a new service opening late next year.