Disposable nappies have come into their own in recent years, with many parents wondering how their parents or grandparents ever did without them! Disposables are convenient and easy to use and do not require laundering.
In recent years biodegradable disposables have been developed, which address concerns about landfill and environmental issues. Depending on the type, they break down within 50 days to 6 months to form a usable compost. Biodegradables can be made of bamboo, natural cotton fibres or chlorine-free wood pulp and do not contain perfumes, dyes, chlorine or the various chemical gels that are usually contained in the absorbent layer of traditional disposables. Traditional disposables are also made of materials that take many years to break down, or never break down at all. However, some areas in Australia now have access to a disposable nappy recycling service, you can read more about disposables in
nappy choices.
There are many advantages and disadvantages of using either cloth or disposable nappies and many people want to weigh up the pros and cons before making a final decision. Your choice of nappy will generally come down to your personal preferences, cost and environmental considerations. You can read more in the
Pros and cons of disposables.
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