Build houses out of used nappies, scientists urge

Because used nappies cannot usually be recycled, the majority are disposed of in landfill or by incineration. Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Used nappies should be used in housebuilding to save sand, scientists have said.

Up to 8% of the sand in the concrete and mortar used to make a single-storey house could be replaced with shredded used nappies without significantly diminishing their strength, scientists from the University of Kitakyushu, Japan, have found.