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Landfill Problem? Financial Incentive? Comfort.....?
Take your pick! The chances are that you have arrived at my site because you are already considering using cloth
nappies, which probably means that you are aware of at least one of the following issues and that it is an important
factor in that decision. But if you are still hesitating, please read on....
The Landfill Problem:
8 million nappies are thrown away every day in the UK. The vast majority of these end up in landfill. It has not yet
been determined how long it will take a disposable nappy to biodegrade (because we're still waiting for it to happen!) but
it is estimated it could take up to 500 years. It costs Bradford Council £800,000 a year to dispose of nappies.*
The other concern is that all these nappies contain human waste. Human waste in landfill is a potential health hazard.
We have a sewage system for a reason and with cloth nappies you flush the poo down the loo, where it belongs!
The Financial Incentive:
Using disposables can cost over £1000 per baby. In fact, in 2006, the Guardian reported that once nappies, wipes and
nappy sacks were taken into account the nappy years could cost parents a whopping £1884 per baby!** You can kit your
little one out in cloth nappies for around £200 - £300 (or even less depending on what system you choose). That's a
significant saving of £1500! And when you take into account that your cloth nappies can be used for subsequent children
the savings become even greater.
Comfort:
Cloth nappies can be made of cotton, hemp or bamboo. It doesn't get much more natural! Disposable nappies are made
of superabsorbent chemicals, paper pulp, plastics and adhesives. Which would you rather wear?
* Figure taken from the Bradford Real Nappy Project leaflet
** The Guardian, February 16th 2006
Other information taken from the Women's Environmental Network http://www.wen.org.uk/nappies/index.htm
