What to do with disposable and cloth nappies?
Disposable nappies take hundreds of years to decompose in landfill and are difficult to recycle at this time.
But did you know that by using cloth nappies until your child is potty trained, you could save money and avoid sending around 4,000 disposable nappies to landfill? Read on to find out how!
Household recycling collection
Disposable nappies should be placed in your general rubbish bin. While it is possible to recycle disposable nappies it’s not a service that is widely available to householders at the moment.
This service is being worked on by the recycling industry and it may be a provision that is available more widely in the future.
Household waste recycling centre
Disposable nappies can’t be recycled as yet.
Cloth nappies will last a long time, but once they need to be recycled, they can with textiles at your local recycling centre.
Should I consider cloth nappies?
Cloth nappies protect the environment and save you money in the long run. They are easy to use and wash, keep your baby happy and leak-free, can be thrown in the washing machine, and give you an option that’s much kinder to the planet.
Isn’t the handling and cleaning of cloth nappies messy you ask? Lots of parents use a permeable liner, which is placed between a baby’s skin and the cloth nappy which catches waste.
Useful resources and guides
Many councils offer incentive schemes to encourage people to use cloth nappies instead of disposables. You should contact your local council to find out if a scheme is available.
Recycling is constantly evolving and changing so check back for updates or try our recycling locator to find out what you can recycle at home and where you can recycle or pass on unwanted items in your local area.