Concrete solution: Using dirty diapers to build houses

Used disposable diapers could be mixed with sand, gravel and other materials to make concrete and mortar. Photo: AFP

Building houses from dirty diapers might sound far-fetched, but it's a highly serious proposal from researchers who tried and tested the idea on a prototype house in Indonesia.

Disposable diapers represent 2% to 7% of all household waste worldwide. Given that used diapers are neither entirely compostable nor entirely biodegradable, the majority of them are incinerated, which contributes to polluting the atmosphere.