Researchers at the University of Bradford have received a £156,000 grant to work out how to make the perfect carpet underlay.

The team will spend two years studying the characteristics of different materials, focusing on sound-proofing and insulation abilities. As well as making homes warmer and quieter, the project could help to reduce landfill.

Dr Kirill Horoshenkov, senior lecturer in environmental acoustics at the university, said the team will be looking at how to recycle old carpets into underlay.

"Most of this waste is destined for landfill at an additional cost of £750,000 to the manufacturer and the taxpayer," he said.

"Given the increasing public concerns for the environment and scarcity of suitable landfill sites, these figures are likely to rise in years to come.

"Incineration as a second alternative is equally unacceptable due to large releases of toxic fumes to the atmosphere and its associated hazards."

By recycling old carpets the team hope to reduce the pressure on landfill sites and provide a low-cost alternative to underlays currently available.

"The recycled material can be easily integrated into many existing commercial products, and the technology itself is expected to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of the UK's carpet manufacturing sector," Dr Horoshenkov said.

The joint project with the Bolton Institute will use waste from carpet makers to work out how to make the underlay.

Funding for the study has come from the DEFRA and DTI Waste Recycling Action Programme.

Dr Horoshenkov believes the project has massive potential, with the demand for carpet set to rise by more than two per cent a year.

"Europe alone produces nearly one billion square metres of carpet, while the UK is ranked fifth internationally and was responsible for 150 million square metres of carpet production," he said.

"In the UK the carpet industry accounts for £935 million of income each year. About seven per cent, or £65 million, of would-be-extra earning is annually lost in the form of waste produced during manufacturing processes and fittings."