How can I reuse or recycle disposable nappies/diapers?
Obviously the greener option is to use reuseable nappies but Katie emailed to say:
Did you know that the new disposable nappies are full of ‘swell gel’, it’s the same stuff you get from the garden centre to add to compost to retain moisture and costs around £5 a box.
I have started to re-use my grandson’s nappies, just the wet ones! Rinse them in the shower until all the ‘yellow’ has gone and they don’t smell.
Rip one end and squeeze them into your compost and hey presto, compost that doesn’t dry out. Ideal if you live in an area that has hose pipe bans every summer.
To be honest, I’d be worried about throwing all those petrochemicals into my compost heap because my compost heap is used pretty much entirely for my veg bed but I like the idea – but I could imagine using them at the bottom of flowers tubs in the garden.
Any other suggestions for re-uses? I suspect there will be some overlap with the sanitary towel suggestions but I think the size/shape might lead to some new ideas too.
(Photo by pascal79)
I don’t know anything about this kind of reusable nappies, but the old-fashioned cloth diapers (the kind you secure with a big safety pin) make great cleaning rags. Obviously they should be washed well after they are no longer needed for baby. The soft, very absorbent cloth is especially good for drying dishes. We have been using the same old cloth diapers for light cleaning in my house for 30 years!
You can use un-used ones to make neck coolers. Sew a long tube of fabric and turn it right side out, then add the little dry gel pellets and sew up the other side. On a hot day soak in water until the gel is all swelled up and drape it around your neck. The moisture keeps you remarkably cool all day!
I remember one of my friends saying they used nappies to make hanging baskets keep their moisture in.
This is a great use for them, and much cheaper than buying the gel when it is marketed for plants. The gel is just the same the added wee makes good plant food as well.
i now a firm which will gives you monney for you old disposable nappies once they have been used.
you will get about £1.00 for each nappies you send. if you would like more info plese email me
very interested please give me more info on that firm
Out of curiosity can you send me the information.
Many thanks
Heather
very interesting,I am starting a busniss by collecting nappies,do you perhaps now of a company or person or service offerd in south africa like
the one youfe mentioned in your mail.we are a hygiene company servicing the the creches and would very much make use of a company like that.please contact me a.s.a.p . philipgerber@mweb.co.za
my company is called industrial product marketing cc.
Hi I would be really interested in knowing more, please email, thanks
Please can you give me more information on this company too
I am very interested in receycling used nappies, please can I have more information – karinrann@hotmail.co.uk
Hi, please can you send me more info re recycling nappies?
i wolud like more info can you tell me more. plesae email me
What is Seans email address, I am interested, mine is renamecor [at} yahoo.co.uk
hi
hi carl this is sean hear my email address is shaun@dogscolebrook.plus.com
My out look is not working… Can you email me at deborahfromuk@hotmail.com
Sean – what firm is it and how does it work? I mean you can’t exactly post dirty nappies…
no there come and frich them from you you email me at
shaun@dogscolebrook.plus.com
Hi I am so delighted to hear of people in south africa that is interested in recycling of disposable nappies,kindly share ur information with me,i would like to start this business and is currently doing research.
please contact me on 0833106278 your co operation will be highly appreciated.let us help one the other to contribute to the health and safety of our country,together we can do more
regards
patricia
Hi
Can you please put the link up for this company? or an web site address?? I’d be really interested to find out more about them
Thanks
Jes
I have a nine month baby and another on the way and am a complete recycle nut it annoys me how many nappies i use and throw away. Can i have the company details that recycle nappies, do they have a website? Very interested
thank you jackie
Bit surprised no one has put up that you can use cloth nappies instead of disposable nappies! There are some fabulous modern designs that are as easy to use as the disposable nappies, and they mean no chemicals next to your babies skin! We bought some for our first child and are still using them with the second child saving loads of cash. Moltex nappies are supposed to be compostable, but you still need to pick out the plastic bits, and I did try one in our worm bin, it took ages to break down, but did eventually.
Not so easy to use cloth diapers around here (Brazil)… they are hard to find (I have only seen those old fashioned ones, that still cause a LOT of rash and are REALLY leaky!) and washing them can also be a great hassle.
I considered them before my little girl was born, even considered buying some of those fancy cloth diapers in the US and bringing them down… but then I realized that with a baby and no help I would be washing diapers to no end, and, since we don’t have dryers around here (some people do, but the electrical bill sky rockets with their use!), I would have a kitchen full of drying diapers and no room to hang clothes for drying…
Hence, the idea of using cloth diapers is really only useful for people in countries where there are resources for that!
buy about 24-36 flat diapers and you will wash evey 2 days. wash the diapers as you would your clothes! this is about you babys health! how can you risk it because you do not want to wash diapers? do you use paper clothes?
am very interested in what you do could u send some info. Im all for recycling and use a mixture of reusable and disposable nappies.
I am also for recycling and i thnk i myt have found a way in which disposables can be recycled bt it costs lots of money n time bt stil doin sme more research on dat.
Hi
Did you know that early this year a company knowaste had officially spent approx 20 million and developed a recycling plant specifically for recycling used nappies? well its true. I am currently in the middle of working with this company to start collections (in and around northamptonshire) and a reward scheme whereby every two nappies we recycle, you get one new nappy delivered to your door, not only saving on the amount you spend, but making the world a better place for our future generation.
Hi Matt
what company is this ? Only one I can find charges to collect the nappies ………
ARE YOU ALL FUCKING CRAZY! That is just UNSANITARY, HAZARDOUS and MORALLY WRONG! How can you even srat by putting a plastic chemical filled diaper on your child and then washe it till all the “yellow” gets out and refill it with crap MADE FOR PLANTS?! you didnt even actually wash it like you would clothes and you put it on your child bottom and privates?! Obviously you should not be blessed with a child! In acient times and before disposables were invented people used CLOTH DIAPERS! and truts me before you say “no, they are expensize/not available ect” EDUCATE YOURSELVES and google them goddamit! There are traditional flats to organic All In Ones! I cloth diaper my son! and for about 100 you can buy the basic stuff! and save money each month or little by little buy a whole supplies worth of CLOTH diapers! It is a lot of money up from but you save THOUSANDS in the long run! go to dirtydiaperlaundry. Cloth Diapering mothers in the USA (myself included) are using the classic traditional flat diapers, with a snappi or pin and a modern cloth diaper cover and we are hand washing only to show you that it is possible and that you do not have to treat your child less than an animal because we do not even do this to dogs!
educate yourselfs abd cloth diapers are not expensive (flats and prefolds) and save up like you do a car/baby gear!
Please this is worse than abusing a child!
@ Lolita you only have to read your post to know who is the crazy one. Using disposable nappies is worse than abusing a child, yes better to break its leg any day. I do personally agree that re-usable nappies are best, but many people do not find that convenient and if your on a day out it is more tricky. I think reusing the gel is a great idea and the next best option rather than it all going to land fill. The Gel is hugely expensive if you are buying it for plant use. There is no need to wash out the wee unless you are putting old wee against the fresh young roots. Wee is full of nutrients that plants love – nitrogen ! so you are washing away the goodness. happy recycling to all.