Get Real with Nappies

Thursday April 8, 2010

New parents are being urged to cut down on the amount of waste sent to landfill by switching to reusable nappies.

Real Nappy Week begins on April 26 and aims to draw attention to the importance of real nappies and the benefits they can bring.

Estimates suggest that more than 14 million nappies are thrown away every year by parents in Hammersmith & Fulham alone. The nappies end up in landfill sites which are hugely expensive to use. No-one knows how long disposable nappies take to decompose but it could be hundreds of years.

Lyn Carpenter, Director of Residents’ Services, said: “As well as having a duty to recycle, we all have a duty to reduce our waste wherever possible. Very few people realise just how expensive it is for the council to send our waste to landfill. In fact, landfill rates have almost doubled in the last two years and increasing taxation on landfill means that costs will continue to rise rapidly. One of the easiest ways to cut down on the amount of waste sent to landfill is for new parents to use real nappies. Not only will they be saving money and helping the environment, but they will also help H&F to cut council tax every year.”

Real nappies are a great alternative to disposals. They're not only much better for the environment, they're also cheaper for parents, and are a lot easier to use than the terry cloths of the last century. Research shows that using home-laundered real nappies rather than disposables could save parents approximately £500 for each child.

If you are interested in finding out more, why not attend one of the council’s Nappy Natter sessions. Here, experts will show you the best real nappies currently on the market, and offer useful information on how to get started. Local parents also attend and talk about their experience with cloth nappies and show how easy they are to use, by demonstrating them on their babies.

The next three Nappy Natters will be on, Friday, April 30, May 28 and June 25, from 2:15 to 4:15 in St Mary's Church Hall, Edith Road, Hammersmith, W14 9BA. To book a place, email realnappies@lbhf.gov.uk or call or 020 8753 1972.