Parents urged to sign up to new Herts Reusable Nappies Scheme

As part of Reusable Nappy Week 2021 (19 to 25 April) Three Rivers District Council is encouraging parents and carers to sign up to the new Herts Reusable Nappies Scheme.

There are 35,000 or so children under the age of two and a half in Hertfordshire at any one time, each requiring at least 4,000 nappy changes. Disposable nappies make up eight per cent of residential rubbish, or an estimated 15,800 tonnes annually, costing over £1.7 million each year. Single use disposable nappies can have a greater carbon footprint than reusables by up to 40%.

Elen Roberts, the council’s Sustainability and Recycling Officer, said: "More and more families have already made the switch. Families don’t need to use reusable nappies exclusively to make a difference. Using just ONE reusable a day will save around 1,000 single-use nappies by the time their baby is potty trained. Reusables can save £500 per child compared to the cost of buying disposables but cost more up front.”

The Hertfordshire Waste Partnership, which Three Rivers District Council is a partner of, is promoting the new Herts Reusable Nappies Scheme where Hertfordshire parents can register to access an exclusive 15% discount with partner suppliers on purchases of a wide selection of reusable nappies and essential accessories.

Helena Jackson, WasteAware Co-Ordinator and leader of the Herts Reusable Nappies scheme, added: “Many parents and parents-to-be want to protect the environment and reduce their waste. Choosing reusable nappies is a great way of doing this, but with such a big range of products on the market, some requiring quite an investment, it can be hard to know where to begin, and who to ask.

"This is where the Herts Reusable Nappies scheme can help, as it gives easy access to all the information parents need, showcases the ranges of nappies and accessories available from our partnering suppliers, and offers a 15% discount to help with the upfront costs of making the switch.”

The website - www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/reusablenappies  - offers support and guidance on the different nappy types, terminology used, what’s needed and how to get started.

Or to find out more about reusable nappies visit: https://www.threerivers.gov.uk/egcl-page/real-nappies.