London spends £20 million on nappy waste ...

On any one day there are about 335k babies and toddlers in London wearing an average of 5 disposable nappies per day.  That means over 1.5 million nappies are thrown away in London every day.  We estimate Londoners spend approximately £20 million per year on the collection and disposal of nappy waste.

How much does YOUR local authority spend on the disposal of nappy waste each year?  We make an estimate based on the number of babies born in your borough, the amount of waste a baby in disposable nappies generates (874kg - almost a tonne, from birth to potty training) and the cost of waste disposal per tonne for your borough - this varies according to the way waste is treated. 

Here are some examples of the costs per year, per London borough:
Brent  £490k  (based on 5,340 births in 2012)
Croydon  £365k  (based on 4,177 births in 2012)
Ealing £504k (based on 5,487 births in 2012)
Hillingdon  £420k  (based on 4,536 births in 2012)
Hounslow  £424k (based on 4,621 births in 2012)
Lambeth £582k (based on 4,825 births in 2012)
Merton £319k  (based on 3,476 births in 2012)
Sutton £237k (based on 2,708 births in 2012)
Wandsworth (inc collection)  £886k (based on 5,451 births in 2012)

Surely local authorities should spend at least 3% of what they spend on disposable nappy waste on preventing/reducing the cost of this household waste stream?    Why don't they?  Because they say residents can't be influenced and so raising awareness is a waste of money.  It's true that real nappies will not become the norm over night.  Behaviour change is slow.  It took about 30 years for disposable nappies to become the norm.  It could take 30 years for real nappies to become the norm again. 

At Real Nappies for London we know that real nappy vouchers are an effective way of increasing the uptake of washable nappies.  They increase word-of-mouth (the best marketing there is) and encourage residents to find out about them and try them.

We don't understand it when local authorities say they haven't got the money to pay for our help.  The collection and disposal of single-use nappies is expensive.  Reusable nappies are a zero waste alternative and bring down waste collection and disposal costs. 

Real Nappies for London was designed to be a pan-London scheme.  By working across London we can offer an economic and effective service - the more boroughs join the better the scheme.  This is largely because of you.  You have friends in different boroughs and can refer them to RNfL for help and support in using washable nappies.

We are in the run-up to the London local elections.  Councillors are listening.  Please write to them (use this link to write a quick email) and tell them that you want them to spend money on reducing disposable nappy waste in your borough.  If your borough does offer a nappy voucher or a nappy trial pack please let them know you support this.  This will help ensure these schemes continue to exist.

For futher information on disposables vs reusable nappies please see Which?  A good article to pass on to friends and family that are expecting a baby.

Do post any questions you have about the Real Nappies for London scheme and we will try to answer them.  As residents you are powerful.  You can get your borough to promote real nappies if enough of you contact your councillors.

Want more ideas on how to reduce your waste? This inspiring YouTube film of a Zero Waste Household has had over 70,000 views.

Nappy Ever After wants to ditch the diesel

Camden-based nappy laundry service, Nappy Ever After needs to raise £2,000 to get its electric bike back on the road.  It's holding a fund-raising screening during Climate Week (March 3-9) of the Diaper Dilemma, a 50 minute documentary that investigates the issuess around nappies.  It offer four solutions to the problem of nappy waste including nappy laundry services!

The fund-raising screening takes place at Nappy Ever After at 96 Chalton Street, NW1 1HJ on Friday March 7 at 10.30am.

A discussion will follow.  You can book here

For details of how to donate  see Nappy Ever After blog post here

Environment Agency or Government? Who is to blame?

Eric Pickles has blamed the Environment Agency - Guardian  for the flooding of the Somerset Levels.  We are not qualified to comment.

However we are qualified to comment on the Environment Agency's Nappy Life Cycle Analysis of 2005 that said washing nappies had similar environmental impacts to landfilling and incinerating disposables.

We can  confirm that there was pressure from then  Environment Minister Elliot Morley on the EA NOT to damage the economic interests of the disposable nappy industry by publishing a report that would affect their profits. 

Apply for your nappy voucher in person

This is a new way to get your voucher and buy real nappies.  For the next few months (until at least 18 October) you can turn up at Nappy Ever After's shop between Euston and Kings Cross St Pancras stations and apply for a voucher in person.

Nappy Ever After's regular shop hours are Tue 2-6pm, but if you can't make this time give Joy a call on 020 7383 5115 and you can arrange appointments/extra sessions.

Take your documents with you - as specified on the Real Nappies for London 'Apply' page.  Please note you can also present photocopies with confidential details such as your passport number, bank details hidden.  We simply need to have enough proof to prevent fraudulent applications.

1. proof of ID eg passport, driving license, NHS card
2. proof of address eg utility bill or any official letter dated within last 2 months
3. proof of pregnancy eg MatB1 form or prescription exemption card or birth eg birth certificate

Whichever borough you belong to, Bexley, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington or Tower Hamlets, your voucher can be processed on the spot.  You can look at real nappies at the same time.  You can buy nappies at Nappy Ever After with your voucher or you can have your voucher emailed to you to spend elsewhere.

Please note that there are also real nappy events in Bexley, Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets where you can have your voucher issued on the spot.  Click on your borough for details.

If you live in Haringey My Creche has kindly agreed to scan your documents and email them to Real Nappies for London for you.

We'd like to hear your views on how to make it easier to get your real nappy voucher.  You can comment here or email nappies@lcrn.org.uk with your ideas and suggestions.

This is a trial until at least 2 July.  If successful it will be extended and we will fix up more opportunities to apply for your voucher in person in other locations.