One of the Waste Strategy team in York's aims is to reduce the amount of disposable nappies that are sent to the landfill sites in York each year.  The key to achieving these aims is to continue to develop the fantastic partnerships we have with healthcare trusts, community groups, nappy agents and of course, parents in York.

We are working hard to make meaningful and helpful information about today's real nappies more readily available to members of the public, including midwives, nursing and other health professionals, as well as many other interested parties.

The Real Nappy Campaign in York encourages parents to be aware of the positive environmental benefits of using real nappies by providing impartial information and advice and in turn helping them choose the most suitable nappy for their baby. 'Real nappies' are becoming a real alternative to many parents for a variety of  reasons, not only environmental. Using real nappies on your baby can save you around £500 (even more if used on future little ones!)  Developments in the manufacturing of real nappies mean that they are much easier to use and less time consuming for new parents. 

If you would like more information about the types of real nappies that are available, or advice on how to use them, you can visit the York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership website.

www.letstalkrubbish.com

The site is really useful with many different types of nappies showcased and plenty of helpful hints and tips.

Real Nappy Week 2009

Real Nappy Week this year ran from 27th April until 3rd May 2009 and was a huge success.  To celebrate Real Nappy Week the York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership ran a competition to win a real nappy kit worth £100!!  The kit is a fantastic starter kit for mums to be and helps them on their way to using real nappies.

We asked the question:

What is the exotic material used to make some real nappies that we usually think of as a favourite food of giant pandas?

The Answer was ........ BAMBOO!

Lots of entries were received and the competition has now closed.  The winner was Amanda Griffin from Woodthorpe who is expecting her first child any time now.  Congratulations to Amanda and thank you to everyone who took part in the competition and showed an interest in using 'real nappies'.

Modern washable nappies

Gone are the days of complicated folding, pins and soaking. Modern washable nappies are easy to use:

• they can be washed at home in the washing machine or by a nappy laundry service
• they are come in a range of styles and patterns and simply fasten with Velcro
• they are made from a range of different materials, cotton, micro fibre and even bamboo! 

Benefits of real nappies

Babies' health

• Washable nappies do not contain gels or chemicals
• They are soft, naturally breathable, absorbent and kind to your baby's skin
• Not changing the nappy frequently is a main cause of nappy rash rather than the type of nappy worn (Research by Bristol University)

Cost savings

• Washing reusable nappies at home can save you up to £500 for your first child, and more for subsequent children, compared with using disposables
• Disposing of nappies costs tax payers in York and North Yorkshire over £300,000 a year

The environment

• Washable nappies allow all bodily waste and associated viruses to be flushed down the toilet, instead of being buried in landfill sites
• The equivalent of seven million trees are used every year just to produce Britain's disposable nappies.
• Every disposable nappy that has ever been buried in a landfill site still exists, and could take several hundred years to decompose.

Contacts

Lollipop Children's Products sell a wide selection of nappies in the York area tall: (01904) 788303, email: nappies@the-oasis.org.uk

Stratford nappies also sell a wide range of nappy brands in the York area, tel: (01759) 372884, email: karin@stratfordnappies.co.uk or www.stratfordnappies.co.uk

The Real Nappy Exchange can help if you would like to sell/donate or purchase used nappies tel: (020) 7481 9004.

Further information: Real Nappy Association or Women's Environmental Network websites.

Visit UKparents website or usednappies website for details about buying and selling real nappies.

Visit Rimbalzo online shop which offers a wide range of environmentally friendly products including Real Nappies. 

UK based Real nappy store 'Fill Your Pants' also acts as an advisory service about Real nappies.  Visit www.fill-your-pants.com for the online store or www.babiesnappies.co.uk for the blog site offering the latest Real Nappy information and news.

**Don't forget to keep hold of your receipt or invoice for purchase of Real nappies to claim your cash back from the incentive scheme (see below)**

Try reusable nappies and get cash back

The York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership run a nappy incentive scheme for parents that want to try modern reusable nappies.

£30 cash back

If you have already decided to use reusable nappies, you can claim £30 cash back when you spend £50 or more on reusable nappies.

Terms and conditions

If you would like to make a claim you can download the form from Lets Talk Less Rubbish website.  

Alternatively contact: the North Yorkshire Waste Campaigns Officer on (01609) 533312 or email: real.nappies@northyorks.gov.uk to obtain the paperwork.