Mid and East Antrim to trial cloth nappies scheme

A cloth nappy scheme has been approved by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Direct Services Committee.

A two-week trial will be made available to 10 parents in support of a bid to reduce the use of disposable nappies.

Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Danny Donnelly, who was involved in highlighting the scheme to council officers, said: “It’s a great idea that will give parents the opportunity to try out cloth nappies and then have a pack subsidised by council should they decide to keep going with it.

“It will mean substantial savings for parents on nappies and much less waste to landfill. It helps parents, the environment and council.”

Councils in Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Newry and Mourne and Fermanagh and Omagh already operate real nappy schemes.

According to Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), by the time a baby is potty trained, the child could have used between 4,000 and 6,000 disposable nappies.

It is estimated that by using cloth nappies, the average household waste of a family with a baby can be halved. Overall disposable nappies account for two to three per cent of all household waste in the UK.

The council believes that there is interest in the borough to introduce a real nappy scheme. Participating families would receive support of £520 towards reusable nappy costs.

It is anticipated that a 750kg saving in landfill tonnage per household participating would enable the local authority to save the equivalent of £81.75 per year on landfill costs.

For parents who take up the scheme and continue until potty training, it would mean a potential saving of £500.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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