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Reusable Nappies
 | The arrival of a new baby in the home is always a stressful and emotional time, and the chances are the environment is the last thing on a parents' mind. However consideration needs to be made, as every day we throw away a million disposable nappies which amounts to 10,000 tonnes of waste a year that local authorities have to bury into the ground. |
4% of household waste is caused by disposable nappies, costing a typical authority £100,000 - £200,000 per year for disposal. This can be reduced with nappy laundries and modern fitting real reusable nappies.
Choose to reuse
Modern reusable nappies are nothing like the terry cloth memories of years ago; there are no pins, you do not have to boil them, and they come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
Using traditional type nappies rather than disposable ones can be cheaper, as well as more environmentally friendly. Washable nappies can save families up to £600 in nappy costs for the first baby alone. Choosing real nappies means a saving on the amount of waste produced and sent to local landfill sites.
Why put your baby's bottom in a complex chemical environment when you have the option of a natural product? Disposable nappies are made of super-absorbent chemicals, paper pulp and plastics while real nappies are manufactured using natural fabrics. If you want the best solution, free of pesticides and other synthetic chemicals, organic cotton and hemp nappies and organic wool waterproof overpants are available at reasonable cost.
There is no one 'best nappy'
Different parents have different requirements, expectations, tastes, budgets and even differently shaped babies! Why not order trial packs from a wide selection of companies and try them out on your baby? While some parents settle on a single brand, others find they like mixing and matching elements from different companies or different nappies for on the go or at night.
The amount of nappies required, will depend upon individual washing routines. On average 18 nappies and 3 waterproof pants are usually adequate for the majority of households. There are a huge variety of modern real nappies to choose from.
You do not lose out financially either, as nappies that are unwashed and unused can be returned. You are also able to sell used ones in good condition, via the Real Nappy Exchange.
Saving you money
Reusable nappies not only dramatically reduce the amount of waste, but can save you money! The Council is currently running a cash-back scheme for those who purchase reusable nappies or use a nappy laundering service. You can get up to £40 towards the cost of one of the above. For further details on how to apply and terms and conditions, please refer to the Nappy Cash-back form.
When possible we would like to pay residents via BACs rather than cheques so please also fill in the form below:
Once you have completed the forms, please post them, with the required documentation to:
Waste Management Team (Nappy Cash-back)
North Herts District Council
Council Offices
Gernon Road
Letchworth
Herts
SG6 3JF
Alternatively you can contact the Waste Management team on 01462 474000 for a copy of the leaflet to be sent to you.
For more information you can see our 
WasteAware Nappy leaflet where you can find Frequently Asked Questions as well as other relevant information.
Real Nappy Week 2008
For information on what's happening in North Herts for Real Nappy Week 2008 see Roadshows and Other Events