West Sussex County Council: The bottom line is: real nappies are tops

Date: Mar 7, 2007

Press Release Number: PR1324

Mums and dads throughout West Sussex will be urged to support a drive next week to get to the bottom of a mountainous problem – the staggering 77,000 disposable nappies that go to landfill every day in our county!

West Sussex County Council, in partnership with the districts and borough councils, is urging them to back Real Nappy Week, which starts on Sunday, March 11, by taking advantage of its award-winning Real Nappy Initiative.

The initiative includes a free starter pack worth £100 that contains eco-friendly real cotton nappies, liners, a bag, a guide on fitting and washing nappies – plus an up to £30 Cash Back incentive for continuing to use real cotton nappies.

The pack – you get two if you have twins – can be ordered eight weeks before the birth and up to four months afterwards.

The County Council will be highlighting the advantages of real nappies and giving away free samples on:

Monday, March 12 – a Magic Recycling Bus will be in Tesco’s car park, Chichester, from 10am.

Wednesday, March 14 – a nappy mountain will be on display at The Cross, Chichester, from 10am.

Frank Wilkinson, County Council Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, said: “At both of these places, we will be happy to answer your questions and queries about the advantages of using real nappies instead of the disposable ones.

“It’ll also give mums and dads the opportunity to take away free samples. I’m sure they will be impressed and pleasantly surprised – because real nappies have come a long way since the days of the old fashioned towelling nappies that had to be kept on with huge safety pins.

“The modern real nappy is light and made of cotton. They can be washed at low temperatures and do not require any pre-soaking.”

However, it’s not only parents who will gain when they sign up to the real nappy offer, said Frank.

“They'll also be helping to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The incredible 77,000 disposable nappies we throw away every day represents between two and three per cent of all household waste.

“They all go to landfill – and we will run out of landfill in West Sussex by the end of the decade.

“But that’s not all – the costs of landfill is set to increase and we do not ever want to find ourselves in the position of being 'fined' for exceeding the new landfill allowances.”

Real Nappy Week events are also being staged in

Adur – between March 11 and 18, there will be a cotton nappy display at Shoreham Civic Centre.

Arun – Cotton Nappy displays on March 12 at Littlehampton’s Civic Centre and Bognor Regis Town Hall.

Crawley – a nappy mountain will be constructed outside the K2 building between 9am and 11.30am on March 16.

Horsham – a nappy mountain and the Magic Recycling bus will be at the Carfax between 9am and 4pm on March 15.

Worthing – Magic Recycling Bus will be at Montague Place, Worthing, on March 13, between 10am and 2pm.

Ends…