‘Real nappy’ promoted

PARENTS using real nappies could save over €1,000 on the cost of keeping a baby in disposable nappies while also helping to make a healthier environment.

That’s according to environment departments in the Kerry, Limerick and Clare waste management region, which are starting a “real nappy” campaign today.

The campaign aims to encourage parents to think about alternatives to disposable nappies and promote a real nappy voucher initiative.

Kerry Co Council environmental awareness officer Mícheál O Coileáin said disposable nappies often made up 50% of the waste of a one-child family. From manufacture to use, he said, disposable nappies used three and a half times as much energy, eight times as much non-renewable raw materials and 90 times more renewable material as real nappies.

They also produced more than twice as much wastewater and 60 times as much solid waste.

The campaign will host a series of Real Nappy Days this week.