Ok, we all know that cloth nappies are the most environmentally friendly nappies to use for our bubs, however not many of us use them, and who can blame us when they cause wet beds, nappy rash and tonnes of washing every day. Now there is a reason to feel a little less guilty. For those of us who are happy to take on a little more work there are lots of alternatives to the old cloth and disposable nappies.

Washable nappies that don’t leave your baby’s bottom wet and don’t leak all over the place are now available. There are many types to choose from and they have been tested and rated on www.wellbeing.com.au in an article titled ‘The nappy wrap’. These nappies use inserts and are comfortable and perform well, according to Nicola who tested eleven different makes. The only downside I can see is the washing factor, but if you want to do the right thing by the environment and your pocket, these are the way to go and are readily available on the internet from Australian companies such as www.greenkids.com.au and www.cheekybutts.com.au.

Now, if you’re still not convinced or don’t fancy washing, washing, washing there is something positive happening in the world of disposable nappies. According to estimates it can take between 200 to 500 years for a disposable nappy to decompose. That was then and this is now because nappy, feminine hygiene and incontinence pad recycling is gathering momentum as companies find ways to process and reuse these germy bundles of yuck. One company in the UK – Knowaste – creates little pellets of plastic out of discarded hygiene products, which are then made into roofing material. This company can even turn this waste into gasses that contribute to electricity production. UR-3R (www.wsn.com.au) at Eastern Creek in New South Wales is turning these absorbent hygienic waste products into compost material after removing any plastic parts.

So all you parents out there who lose sleep over trying to find a balance between convenience and environmental responsibility, don’t stress, your dilemma is now easily resolved. Hooray for innovation and recycling; from poo to new, cool!