The use of cloth nappies helps reduce waste

It’s not new but it may be coming back into vogue, the use of cloth nappies for babies.

In the past, the use of cloth nappies was the only way to keep your baby contained in the event of a little accident, however times changed and prefolds, pockets, all in ones and one size fits all became the usual way of looking after babies’ needs, while making it easier on parents.

Now there is a move to have parents seriously consider the use of cloth nappies to keep baby happy, while making a positive change to look after the environment.

Hastings District Council Waste Minimisation Planner Angela Atkins says” in 2009 nappies and sanitary items made up around 15% or over 3,000 tonnes of waste in the region”.

“You don’t have to use them fulltime, even a couple each day will significantly reduce the amount of waste that goes into the landfill” Angela Atkins says. “They are as easy to use as disposables and much better for our environment, when cleaned the right way. Nowadays there are no pins, origami folds or soaking involved with the use of cloth nappies”.

Cloth nappies can also prove to be lighter on the pocket. Research shows there can be a real cost saving by using cloth instead of disposable nappies.

You can find out more about the advantages of using cloth nappies at a talk to be held at the Hastings Public Library on Tuesday May 24th at 6.30pm.

The talk will include information on the types of materials used in cloth nappies and how this impacts on their absorbency and care requirements.

Angela Atkins says “it’s part of Cloth Nappy week, which has developed from an idea which began in the UK in 1996. The event now includes hundreds of activities which take place in 65 countries throughout the world”.

Help look after the environment and keep your baby clean and dry with information from the Cloth Nappy talk at the Hastings Public Library on Tuesday May 24th at 6.30pm.

For more information got to www.susd.org.nz