Reusable nappies cut waste!

Two nurseries in the borough have been recognised for their huge success in cutting waste through the rollout of reusable nappies to parents and carers. 

Working with the council and its partner, Real Nappies for London, Lloyd Park Children’s Charity has been pioneering a local nappy laundry service for two of its nurseries, Higham Hill and Lloyd Park Centres. 

And the results have been fantastic. Since the pilot initiative began it has halved their disposable nappy waste, saving 240 litres of waste every week and £4,000 has also been in waste disposal costs. 

Nursery staff have also been inspired to engage families in conversations about sustainability at home and add new ways of cutting down on waste into their everyday routines.

Early years educator Arshia explains more: “In the beginning it was challenging as it was new. But over time it has become easier as the team are getting used to it. 

“The children seem happy, they are not phased by it. I think it’s a good thing, the purpose behind it, it didn’t become a big problem when we changed over which was good.” 

Cllr Clyde Loakes MBE, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate and Air Quality said: “I’m really happy to see that Waltham Forest is once again being recognised for its work to reduce waste and support sustainability.

“In this case, we’ve worked with two of our nurseries, alongside our partners Real Nappies for London to achieve real success. The results are hugely impressive. Nappy waste reduced by half, saving 240 litres of waste every week, the equivalent to a fully loaded large black wheelie bin every week. This alongside a reduction of more than £4,000 in dispersal costs over course of a year.

“It is a great example of small changes making a big impact and I’d like to thank parents, the fantastic staff at Higham Hill and Lloyd Park Centres who have championed this initiative, and Real Nappies for London for all the hard work in making this an exemplar initiative. 

“We want to build on this success to achieve even more as part of our ambitious work to tackle the climate crisis, supporting residents to make sustainable small changes which will lead to more fantastic results. That’s why we are supporting Real Nappies for London in working to rollout this successful initiative to more nurseries across the borough in the future. 

“By choosing reusable nappies, parents are not just saving money for them and their children, they are also cutting significant waste at source. This isn’t just about a one-time choice, it’s about building a healthier, more sustainable future for our children too. This partnership is a fantastic way to encourage parents, and give them the support they need, to make the switch. It’s an easy win for families and a big win for our planet, one nappy at a time!”

You can find out more about this pilot initiative in this case study by Real Nappies for London.

Every year in the UK, around 3.6 billion disposable nappies are thrown away, generating 432,000 tonnes of waste and costing local councils over £140 million in disposal costs. 

This is one reason why the council and Real Nappies for London are also supporting new parents with the costs of reusable nappies across the borough. 

If you are an expectant parent, a parent or a foster carer living in the borough with a baby under 18 months, or under the age of five with a disability requiring nappies, you are eligible to apply for a £70 nappy voucher.

Your voucher can assist with the upfront cost of buying reusable nappies or contribute to a paid-for washable nappy laundry service.

Reusable nappies are comfortable for babies and can massively reduce waste. They are also cheaper and can save families almost £500 over a couple of years of use.