Disposable diapers are a fact of life for people with babies all over the world. Unfortunately, they are a major environmental nuisance. A company called Zero Waste Scotland has stepped in to try and ease the environmental impact of used “nappies,” as they’re called there.
So what will become of the dirty nappies? Zero Waste Scotland hopes to recycle and convert the diapers into items like garden furniture and roof tiles. During a six week trial period, a select area in Scotland will be chosen to participate in this recycling program. If the initial trial run goes well, the program will look into expansion.
Scotland Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead says, “Disposable nappies, although convenient, do have a huge impact on the environment with a staggering 450,000 ending up in landfill each day in Scotland. This innovative new scheme is a fantastic step forward for recycling and makes it easier for parents to do their bit for the environment.”
“It’s great that new technologies allow us to recycle even more materials. In this way, we can reuse our waste and treat it as a valuable resource with the potential to boost our economy.”
According to Roy Brown, Chief Executive of Knowaste, the company that will be handling the recycling, their “plant is a specialist recycling facility, which is the first of its kind in the UK. We use new technology to allow us to turn absorbent hygiene products, previously unsuitable for recycling, into valuable plastics and fibres, which can then be used to make new products. We are delighted to support the trial collection services in Scotland, which we hope will lead to a wider adoption of the recycling service across the country.”
Hopefully the trial run is successful and can expand to larger areas. To be able to recycle and reuse dirty diapers would save huge amounts of space in landfills and would lesson their environmental impact of diapers significantly.
Source: Zero Waste Scotland
About Zero Waste Scotland:
- Zero Waste Scotland works with businesses, communities, individuals and local authorities to help them reduce waste, recycle more and use resources sustainably.
- Zero Waste Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to support the delivery of its Zero Waste Plan.
- More information on all Zero Waste Scotland’s programs can be found at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk.