Nappies
On average a baby from birth to potty will get through approximately 4,500 disposable nappies. That means at least £700 spent on disposables. As a nation, the UK deals with the disposal to landfill of nearly 3 billion used nappies every year (8 million a day) at a cost of £40 million.
However, re-usable nappies provide a less expensive option which have the added benefit of being far more environmentally sound.
It takes 1 cup of crude oil to make 1 disposable nappy and most disposables take between 200-500 years to break down. Disposables consume 3.5 times as much energy to make as cotton nappies - that's enough energy to wash a re-usable nappy 400 times.
Parents can either self-launder the nappies or use a laundry service which can be convenient.
Have you read the Environment Agency report on nappies? Please read the response from the Women's Environmental Network which believes it to be seriously flawed. Real Nappy Week is coordinated by Women's Environmental Network working with the Real Nappy Campaign and funded by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).
Our recycling / disposal advice
Disposable nappies can constitute up to 50% of the waste from a family with a child wearing nappies. Re-useable nappies are therefore a great way to reduce the waste in your bin which would ultimately end up in landfill.
One of the stumbling blocks to parents deciding to proceed with re-usable nappies is the unfamiliarity with the process in comparison with disposable nappies and the initial larger financial outlay needed to purchase the cotton nappies.
Eco-Babes, a mail order company based in Norfolk, offer a sample nappy trial service. For a small fee this service provides the use of a sample nappy pack which contains several different types of cotton nappies, allowing parents/carers to try different types of nappies in order to choose the most suitable for the child. For more information call 01366 387851 or log onto www.eco-babes.co.uk
£50 cashback for the purchase of re-useable nappies in Hertfordshire!
In Hertfordshire there is a cashback scheme in operation for the purchase of re-usable nappies or subscription to a nappy laundering service. If you buy your own re-useable nappies or join a nappy laundering scheme, your local District or Borough Council, in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council will reimburse you £50 towards the total cost. NB. Broxbourne Borough Council are now participating in the scheme, and the cashback offer is now available to residents throughout Hertfordshire.
More information about real nappies can be found in our nappy information pack. Further details of the scheme and a cashback coupon are available here. There is a cut out coupon that can be used to register for the scheme.
If you already have the cashback leaflet post the completed coupon and necessary documents to your local Recycling Officer. Their contact details are available here.
Go Real - The Real Nappy Campaign (08458 500606 /www.goreal.org.uk) provides advice and details of all your local re-usable nappy contacts whether you want to wash your own or use a local laundry service.
Use the search below to find where to recycle / dispose of Nappies.