Councils urged to pay new parents to use washable nappies

A number of councils have already taken action to encourage the use of re-usable nappies

The Local Government Association yesterday called for councils to join up to a scheme in which new parents are paid up to 80 to use “real nappies” instead of those they throw away after use.

The call came at the LGA's Sustainable Communities Summit in Birmingham, where it was revealed that nearly 3 billion nappies are thrown away in Britain every year, with about 90% going to landfill.

Cllr David Sparks, who chairs the LGA's environment board, said: “The growing nappy mountain is a real problem for the environment, for council taxpayers and for families.

“Paying people to take up reusable nappies gives families the chance to save money, understand that they are almost as easy to use as disposable ones and help reduce damage to the environment in the process. While people may opt for sticking with disposable nappies, this scheme gives a financial incentive to hard pressed families to try other more cost effective and greener options,” explained Cllr Sparks.

Trials
Some councils – including 11 English counties – are already trialling financial incentive schemes to promote the use of washable, cotton nappies with support from Defra or the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

Examples include Three Rivers district council, which offers 80 towards parents that use a nappy laundry service for at least six months; Harrow council, which offers parents a one-off grant of 60 towards the cost of purchasing re-usable nappies; and, Cheshire county council, in which local parents can claim back half the costs of re-usable nappy purchases.

Cllr Sparks said: “For council taxpayers and local people this is a win-win situation. Local people get extra cash to reduce the costs of bringing up a child and the taxpayer has the amount of money their council spends on landfill cut.”

• The 10th anniversary “Real Nappy Week” is taking place from April 24 until April 30, 2006, including a variety of events backed by over 80% of UK local authorities. More information is available at the Women's Environmental Network site.