Councillors and officers embarked on a “fact-finding mission” in Wales to visit NappiCycle – said to be “one of the only companies in the world” which processes and recycles used nappies and other absorbent hygiene products.
NappiCycle uses friction washing to break down used nappies and AHPs into clean reusable products. In Wales, the recycled nappies are then being used in asphalt for road surfacing, composite deck boards and other secondary products.
The process is run from renewable electricity, also incorporating natural minerals. The process is said to offer a “94 per cent carbon saving” compared to disposing of the products through an Energy for Waste plant, which is the current disposal route in East Devon.
EDDC has plans to arrange the specifics of the trial and check the data, information and finances to ensure the proposal is viable. It is anticipated that the trial, using a test area in East Devon, could start from Autumn 2024 – subject to permits being obtained.
Nappies and AHP would be collected at the kerbside by contractor Suez and recycled by NappiCycle.
The scheme follows an agreement for a budget to trial through the EDDC Recycling and Waste (R&W) Partnership Board in 2023. The Board were impressed with the “potential for circular economy uses in the future” in Devon.
Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC’s portfolio holder for coast, country and environment, said: “If the proposed trial is successful, East Devon could be the first English authority to take up this innovative nappy recycling.
“Nappies are considered to be one of the largest single problematic products for our residual waste bins, and removing these products and recycling them instead would help our residents and at the same time help the environment too.”
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