Comhairle & Health Board Join Forces To Promote Real Nappies

The Waste Aware campaign team at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have been successful in gaining funding to promote the use of real nappies in the Western Isles. The scheme has been funded by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and SEPA, working in partnership with the Waste Aware Team, to reduce the amount of disposable nappy waste going to landfill. Across the whole of the UK, three billion nappies a year - eight million a day - are thrown away and go to landfill. This is estimated to cost local authorities over £40 million in collection and disposal charges.

Real nappies have come a long way since the terry nappy, and now come in all shapes, sizes and colours and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are offering Western Isles parents who are not already using washable nappies, the opportunity to make a positive change by offering 250 free starter packs of home washable, reusable nappies worth £50, on a first come first served basis.

The Real Nappy Gift packs, available to expectant parents and parents of babies up to 6 months old, consists of 3 shaped nappies, waterproof cover, fleece liners, terry square, reusable wipes and a waterproof bag. Every parent that chooses to take up the offer will save waste to landfill and up to £500 on the cost of disposable nappies for one baby. Anyone interested in receiving their free pack should contact the Waste Aware Helpline on 01851 709900 or their local Health Visitor or Health Clinic.

Today, (Monday 5 December 2005), sees the launch of a new scheme, with Health Visitors and Health Clinics throughout the Western Isles receiving a Real Nappy Resource pack, containing samples of some of the real nappy products currently available.

Contact Officer:
Marina Fraser
Waste Aware Western Isles Campaign Coordinator
01851 706679

Notes:

Ten top tips to help the environment by washing nappies at home:
• Use an energy efficient washing machine
• Wash soiled nappies at 60oC
• Wash wet nappies and waterproof wraps at lower temperatures along with the rest of your laundry
• Avoid tumble drying – hang nappies out to dry or use an airer
• Avoid soaking – store nappies dry in a lidded bucket
• Avoid using unnecessary chemicals such as conditioners and sanitizers
• Use eco-detergent
• Never iron nappies or wraps
• Extend the life of your nappies - reuse them on another baby, or give/sell them to someone else
• Use washable liners

Real Nappy Week, 20-26 June 2005 is the annual focus of the real nappy campaign, funded by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) and co-ordinated by Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) working with the Real Nappy Campaign. The aim is to engage with parents nationwide to help them make an informed choice about real nappies and single-use disposables. The Real Nappy Campaign will deliver a national educational programme of activity to raise awareness of washable real nappies, which will be supported throughout the week by regional and local activities across the UK co-ordinated by WEN. For more information on Real Nappy Week visit www.realnappycampaign.com

Environment: Many parents use just 20-24 nappies. Washing them at 60oC in an energy efficient washing machine saves 24% global warming impact over that suggested in the Environment Agency report – Life Cycle Assessment of reusable and disposable nappies May 2005. (Source: The Women’s Environmental Network)

Waste: Britain throws away about eight million nappies a day. With a disposal cost to individual local authorities in hundreds of thousands of pounds per year (Lancashire estimates £618,000 per year) it is not surprising that nappy schemes now play a key role in local authorities’ waste strategies.

Cost: WEN estimates that washing nappies at home could save parents around £500 even taking all the electricity and detergent costs into account. Using the nappies for more children means the savings could be even greater. Hospitals can save money too by using real nappies on wards where disposables incur clinical waste charges. Local authorities save on waste disposal charges.

Modern nappies have advanced considerably over recent years. They are shaped and fitted and fastened without the need for pins. They come in a variety of styles and patterns. A biodegradable liner can be used inside the nappy and this can be removed so that the contents are flushed down the loo. Nappy washing services make things even easier, collecting dirty nappies and leaving fresh clean ones in their place.

Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) is a registered charity which campaigns on issues which link women, health and the environment. WEN has been involved in Real Nappy Week since its inception and has coordinated the week in its current form since 2000. Other current issues include food, chemicals and the environmental impacts of disposable sanitary and continence protection. www.wen.org.uk email nappies@wen.org.uk tel: 020 7481 9004 fax: 020 7481 9144

WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) is a major UK programme established to promote resource efficiency. Its particular focus is on creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products and removing the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.
Part of WRAP’s Waste Minimisation work, the Real Nappy Campaign is an element of the Real Nappy Programme, which is focused on helping parents to make an informed choice about nappies and increasing the visibility of real nappies. Its targets are to convert an additional 155,000 households to real nappy use, and in the process divert 35,000 tonnes per annum of disposable nappy waste from landfill.

1. A not-for-profit company in the private sector, WRAP is backed by substantial Government funding from Defra, DTI and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
2. WRAP has laid down targets across fifteen programmes. Twelve are focused on market development and compromise six material streams (paper plastics, glass, wood, organics, procurement, and regional market development). Three further programmes relate to the wider resource efficiency remit – Collections, Communications and Awareness, and Waste Minimisation.
3. More information on all of WRAP’s programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk

Health Visitors, Midwife and Waste Aware Staff

Barra Midwife Nellie MacArthur, Rona from Waste Aware and Wendy Brown