Nappies - making an informed choice

You may think that using disposables is convenient, but have you thought about the environmental effects?

Our aim is to give parents an informed choice about alternatives to disposable nappies so that they can help to reduce the burden these place on our environment.

• Why you should choose real nappies:
  It is believed that each disposable nappy takes between 200 and 500 years to biodegrade!
• Disposable nappies use up to five times more energy to produce than cotton nappies - including the washing process! The waste from washing is relatively benign compared to the decomposition of disposables
• It is estimated that from 'birth to potty' you will spend between £600 - £1,000 on disposable nappies
• Eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every single day in the UK
• Three billion disposable nappies are thrown away in the UK every year
• 95 disposable nappies are thrown away in the UK every second
• 50 million nappies are thrown away in Leicestershire each year
• The cost to the local taxpayer for dealing with disposable nappies is over £250,000 each year
• No time? There are nappy washing services which should still work out to be cheaper than using disposable nappies and will help the environment

The Borough Council works in partnership with the Leicestershire County Council which has set up the Leicestershire Real Nappy Network. The network explains the advantages of real nappies, considerations when buying real nappies, using real nappies, local suppliers, free two week nappy trial and a £30 cashback scheme.

The website will also promote events in both the borough and throughout Leicestershire. Remember, there are local advisers who can provide a home demonstration visit if this is more convenient.

Contact at the Borough Council:  Jane Green.

Last updated: 23/11/2010 09:31