People who use large quantities of incontinence pads may welcome the news that the UK's first ever recycling plant for these products is opening.

The facility in West Bromwich is the first of five planned over the next four years by Knowaste, which specialises in the recycling of used absorbent hygiene products (AHP), including nappies, feminine hygiene products and incontinence supplies.

Waste products will be sterilised on-site and the plastic and fibre recovered to make new items, including roof tiles, plastic components and commercial tubes.

At present, used incontinence pads and other absorbent hygiene products are either incinerated or put in landfill sites.

However, research carried out last year found that the new recycling process emits up to 71 per cent less carbon emissions, with the West Bromwich site alone saving more than 22,500 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

Roy Brown, chief executive officer of Knowaste, said: "This first site in West Bromwich represents the beginning of a £25 million overall investment in the UK, that will produce capacity for handling about a fifth of the AHP waste stream."

According to Knowaste, adult incontinence product usage is on the increase, with the majority of nursing home residents affected by incontinence.