Information Bulletin
15 June 2005
Real Nappy Week: 20-26 June
What Shetland is Doing
Now in its ninth year, Real Nappy Week (June 20-26) is supported in Shetland jointly by Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Health Board. The week highlights that change in nappy practice nationally and internationally with a real move being seen to the use of cloth nappies instead of disposables. Nationally over 80% of local authorities now support the week as part of their waste awareness raising and prevention work.
The arrival of a new family member is often the first time that people realise how much waste they are actually generating - particularly if a large volume of the waste becomes soiled disposable nappies. Disposables cost more to use over the life of the child and, with refuse collection on a weekly basis, it can be unpleasant to store between collections. With the national and international move towards waste prevention in all its forms a closer examination of nappy use is becoming more high profile.
The message of the return to cloth nappies is now being spread throughout the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland, Mexico, Canada and the United States to name just a few. This is because of the real cost savings available to parents using cloth nappies (£600 saved on the first child alone) and the fact that the modern cloth nappy is very different from the old terry squares being brightly coloured and shaped just like disposables. There is now such a range of cloth nappies readily available on the market that parents are now spoilt for choice.
In Shetland a wide selection of types and materials are available easily either from local outlets or through the internet.
Shetland Health Board and Shetland Islands Council have been working in partnership for some time on real nappy promotion and were successful in obtaining national funding for various projects to promote this change. These include the conversion of the Maternity Unit at the Gilbert Bain to real nappies and the establishment of nappy libraries at Health Centres throughout the islands. Further details of projects developed under the successful funding bid and contact names for suppliers can be found on Shetland
Islands Council’s Waste Services website at www.shetland.gov.uk/waste/wasteprevention.asp.
By operating in partnership the Council and the Health Board have been able to raise local awareness of this issue and have been successful in pulling into Shetland extra funding to support the changes and develop the necessary awareness raising materials. The project is an excellent example of successful community planning the outcome of which can show a real costs difference to parents using the new cloth systems whilst at the same time helping reduce waste generation and its ongoing disposal costs.
There will be a series of display stands available for those interested in the topic to come along and see the
new nappies during Real Nappy Week:-
20 & 21 June Tollclock Shopping Centre, Lerwick
22 & 23 June Clickimin Leisure Centre, Lerwick
24 June Brae Health Centre, Brae.
Ross Weston, Senior Midwife, Gilbert Bain maternity Unit says “Health professionals are often the first people parents-to-be and new parents turn to for advice. It is vital that we pass on to them the advice about real nappies. Real Nappy Week activities and events offer parents the perfect opportunity to find out more about the choices available to them”.
For further information on Nappy Week or to discuss the use of non disposables please contact Mary Lisk at the Council’s Waste Services on (01595) 744818 or Ross Weston, Senior Midwife at the Gilbert Bain Maternity Unit on (01595) 695678.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Real Nappy Week is co-ordinated nationally by Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) working with the real Nappy campaign. Funded by WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) the Week aims to engage parents with a range of national, regional and local activities and thus enable them to make an informed choice of nappy.
Britain throws away about 8 million nappies every day. With disposal costs for local authorities constantly rising the promotion of real nappies is an important plank in reducing waste generation. With real nappies the baby uses just 20 –24 throughout its time in nappies at a cost saving to parents of c£600:00 per baby. The nappies also are usable for further babies or can be sold on with other baby goods once the baby has grown out of them.
“The benefits of cloth nappies are clear. Parents can save money and reduce waste and harm to the environment. The only way parents reduce environmental impact when using disposable nappies is to use fewer nappies and that is not a good idea. Using real nappies puts parents in control.” (Women’s Environmental Network)
Projects funded under the Real Nappy award for Shetland are as follows:-
- the conversion of the Gilbert Bain maternity Unit to real nappies
- the establishment of nappy libraries throughout the islands at health centres
- the integration of real nappy awareness training into all anti natal and post natal classes
- the production of Shetland specific literature
- the establishment of a Shetland Real Nappy Network offering advice and support to mums
- the production of a Shetland Real nappy Website
- the establishment of a Nappy incentive Scheme offering funding grants of £30.00 against the cost of real nappy packs
- the manning of awareness raising stands at public events
All of the above have either been accomplished; are operational or are in the final stages of completion.
Ends.