Real Nappies Campaign

I have given my support to the Real Nappy Association's campaign to promote the use of real nappies instead of disposables.

Three billion disposable nappies being thrown away each year make up 4% of all domestic waste in the U.K.

If people can use real nappies instead of disposables, even just some of the time, I would strongly encourage them to do so.

Read my comments in full or scroll down the page for facts and figures supplied by the Real Nappy Association.

Then tell me what you think about this subject.

Waste Reduction

Responsible for 4% of household waste in the UK, nappies provide a prime opportunity to reduce the rubbish in our dustbins. 3 billion nappies are thrown away every year in the UK.

Nappies make up 50% of the waste from a household with just one baby so families can cut their waste in half by using real nappies.

With the cost to each local authority in hundreds of thousands of pounds per year on disposal (Bristol City, for example, spends £500,000 per year) it is not surprising that nappy schemes now play a key role in local authorities' waste strategies.

Waste Disposal

Each year Britain throws away enough rubbish to bury Edinburgh a metre deep. Landfill space is running out.

Many local authorities are struggling to stop waste amounts increasing and many more incinerators are planned to meet the Landfill Directive. Incineration is not a trouble free solution.

The emissions from incinerators cause controversy wherever they are sited and up to 30% of the waste remains as ash to be disposed of in landfill. Waste prevention at source is the most effective way of reducing our rubbish.

Cost

Parents can save £500 - £1,250 on the cost of keeping a baby in nappies.

You can kit out your baby in real nappies on the high street for under £70. This includes all the nappies and waterproof covers you will need for the whole of your baby's nappy wearing life.

The same amount of money will only buy your baby's first ten to twelve weeks of disposables. Even taking into account the total cost of laundering nappies at home, about £33 a year, the savings are still considerable.

Health

Why put your baby's bottom in a complex chemical environment when you have the option of a natural product?

Disposable nappies are made of superabsorbent chemicals, paper pulp and plastics while real nappies are manufactured using natural fabrics.

If you want the best solution, free of pesticides and other synthetic chemicals, organic cotton and hemp nappies and organic wool waterproof overpants are available at reasonable cost.

Useful links

The Real Nappy Association provides information on where to obtain reusable nappies.

National Association of Nappy Services (NANS) offers local delivery and collection of freshly laundered cotton nappies for parents, childminders, nurseries and hospitals.

The Real Nappy Project, Women's Environmental Network aims to raise awareness of the environmental impact of disposable nappies and the availability of modern, fitted cloth nappies, terries and nappy laundry services, to offer parents real choice.

The Kingston & Merton Real Nappy Network can be contacted at PO Box 428 New Malden KT3 9AU, mobile: 07949 628 148 or email kingstonmertonrnn@yahoo.co.uk The Network runs regular events for parents and speak to health professionals about the benefits of real nappies. They are able to give help and advice about everything to do with Real Nappies.