Eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every day -
that's an incredible three billion each year!
The Recycling Team is pleased to offer parents who live within
the City of London the chance to receive up to £50 cash-back
towards the cost of purchasing real nappies or using a real nappy
laundry service.
Please download, print and complete the Real Nappy Scheme
application form or
contact the
Recycling Team to request a form in the post. Please note that
proof of name and address, birth or pregnancy, and purchase will be
required.
If you do not live within the City of London please use
The Real Nappy Campaign's
nappy finder to see if your local council provides a similar
scheme.
Real Nappy Scheme application
form (48kb)
Why choose real nappies over disposable?
The average baby gets through 5,000 disposable
nappies from birth till being potty trained, which costs
parents between £700 and £1,000!
The main component of disposable nappies is paper pulp fluff,
increased demand for which is beginning to threaten forests in
Canada, Scandinavia and the Baltic States. Other components include
plastics, adhesives and absorbing chemicals, which could react with
babies who have sensitive skin.
Most disposable nappies will end up in landfills, where they can
take hundreds of years to decompose, with an estimated disposal
cost of £40 million a year.
As the bio-degradable components of the nappy break-down in the
landfill site, methane and carbon dioxide are produced, which are
both greenhouse gases contributing to global warming and climate
change.
What are the benefits of using real nappies?
Reusable real nappies offer a sustainable alternative to
disposable ones and can save you money, as total expenditure on
real nappies is estimated at £250 - £300. Further savings can be
made by using the same nappies on your second or third child.
Modern versions of cloth nappies are widely available, and come
in a large variety of shapes and styles, and lots of attractive
colours and materials. They are made from natural fibres and
organic options are available. If you don’t want to wash them
yourself, there are plenty of nappy laundry services to choose
from.
By choosing to use real nappies for your baby, you can:
- Stop 5,000 disposable nappies going to landfill
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Counter nappy rash as real nappies are breathable
- Reduce the threat to forests
- Save money and receive a cash-back award!
Real nappy links:
Women’s
Environmental Network
The Nappy
Lady
The
Real Nappy Campaign
The Nappy Site
Use The Real Nappy Campaign’s
Nappy
Finder to find your local supplier, nappy laundry service or
on-line retailers.