Friday 12 April 2013
It's Real Nappy Week! Let's celebrate the fact that there is a huge choice of easy to use and extremely cute real (washable) nappies. Most people think of the traditional (and, let's face it, old fashioned) terry cloth nappy and the iconic nappy pin. These days, washable nappies are colourful, shaped, easy to use, easy to wash (even at 40 degrees) and can save you up to £500 over the cost of disposable nappies.
The Public Services Department runs an incentive scheme to encourage parents to try real nappies. Under this scheme, a £35.00 voucher is available to new or expectant parents (one voucher per child) and is redeemable following nappy purchase. All you need to do is contact the Department on 202 250 or email publicservices@gov.gg with your name and address and you will receive the voucher in the post.
Waste Prevention and Recycling Officer, Emma Simpson used real nappies when her son was a baby so she knows it makes sense:
"The initial purchase can seem expensive, but when I worked out how much money I was saving by not buying disposables it just made sense. Further savings can be made by reusing nappies with your next child or selling them on when your toddler becomes potty trained."
In addition to saving money, real nappies can also benefit the environment, particularly in relation to waste. Emma Simpson said:
"It is estimated that around 9,500 disposable nappies a day end up in Mont Cuet, that means three and a quarter million nappies go into landfill at Mont Cuet every year where they can take up to 300 years to break down. By the time he or she reaches two-and-a-half, the average child will have used approximately 6,500 nappies - equivalent to 40 black sacks full per child per year."
On average, 600 babies are born in Guernsey each year and the Department would like to encourage as many new parents as possible to consider using real nappies. 'If we could get 15% of new babies in real nappies, that would remove about 30 tonnes of waste from landfill,' said Emma Simpson.
Public Services has recently been involved in helping to set up the Guernsey Real Nappy Network (GRNN): a not-for-profit community group that promotes the benefits of real nappies and offers independent advice and practical support to anyone in the Bailiwick.
To celebrate 'Real Nappy Week' Emma Simpson and Real Nappy Advisers from GRNN will be at the NCT Nearly New Sale on Friday 19 April (19:00 for NCT members, 19:30 for non-members at St Sampson's High School) and will also be holding a 'Nappuccino' in the St Martin's Community Centre from 10:00 until 12:00 on Saturday 20 April.
-ENDS-
Contact Information
For more information on Real Nappies or how to apply for a voucher:
Public Services Department
Tel: 01481 202 250
E-mail: publicservices@gov.gg
Guernsey Real Nappy Network
E-mail: guernseyrealnappynetwork@gmail.com
Facebook page: Guernsey Nappy Chat
