BabyStore, a mobile service run by two volunteer parents, will raise awareness of waste minimisation measures such as “real” nappies as well as selling low-cost second-hand baby items, maternity clothes and books.
The initiative also includes a ‘Swap It’ board where parents can advertise unwanted bulky items such as cots, prams, baby baths and buggies.
The county council’s executive member for waste management, Cllr Anne Purse, said: “This is an excellent project that the County Council has had no hesitation in backing. I am sure it will enjoy great success.”
Oxfordshire recycling officer Kate Aydin said: “BabyStore is run by parents for parents. It aims to sell low cost reusable clothes and toys to families instead of sending them to landfill. It also promotes washable nappies and family support networks in Oxfordshire, and encourages environmentally-friendly lifestyle choices such as composting and using calico bags instead of plastic bags.”
At the scheme's official launch in Bicester, BabyStore gave out free gifts packs in re-useable calico bags that included a booklet on parenting and child initiatives in Oxfordshire, Body Shop soap, a waste reduction pack and composting leaflet.
Clare Kavanagh of BabyStore said: “Everyone who visited the stall was thrilled to receive good quality baby items for 50p or 1. They especially liked the free calico bags. We hope to enable more people to buy bargain unwanted clothes and toys, and at the same time raise awareness of the need to reuse and save the environment.”
Nearly 3 billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year, the vast majority of which (90%) go to landfill.
Subscribe for free