We’ve heard about a slightly strange solution to disposing of the millions of used nappies clogging up landfills – oyster mushrooms!

It might not sound all that savoury, but scientists at a university in Mexico City have found that the exact same oyster mushrooms you chop up for your stir fry could hold the key to breaking down the used nappies. The fungi feeds on the cellulose the material nappies are made of, biodegrading them and saving landfills from being overloaded.

Amazingly the oyster mushrooms can break down 90% of the material in the used nappies in only two months, and in four months they break them down completely. And you can still eat the mushrooms – though you may not want to!

What do you think of this unusual way of dealing with used nappies? We’d love to hear your comments below.

January 30, 2012 | Filed under Environment, Show All, We've been inspired by and tagged with innovative ideas, reducing waste.