When you have a baby, they come with a whole lot of waste – especially the type that comes out of their bodies. Diapers are a necessity which your baby will be using for at least a few years. If you have multiple children, you will be dealing with diapers for a very long time. There is a lot of debate about which kind of diaper is best for individuals but also the environment. Before your little one arrives, consider how you will deal with the diaper waste situation.
Disposable Diapers
Common disposable diapers are convenient, but can create a huge amount of waste. Babies and toddlers will go through thousands of diapers in the years before being potty trained. Multiply that by how many young children there are, and that is a whole lot of space in the landfill. In fact, according to an EPA study in 2018, there were an estimated 4.1 million tons of diapers generated, most of which end up in landfills. Diapers are largely made of plastic and synthetic materials which could take hundreds of years to break down. They do have some benefits like ease, which is important for new parents, as well as keeping urine and feces off of sensitive skin. However some babies react badly to synthetic materials and fragrances used in disposable diapers.
Reusable Diapers
Reusable diapers, or cloth diapers, have been around for a very long time in different formats. Many brands today use an insert made from bamboo or other materials which goes in a more waterproof cover and usually fastens with velcro or buttons. These diapers have a higher initial investment, but can save you money in the long term. Many can be used from the newborn stage through potty training, and they can be reused for multiple children. They can also be passed down or bought secondhand. You can wash them at home, but there are also services that pick them up to wash them for you. These diapers often have fun designs and the covers double as swim diapers or potty training underwear. They prevent a significant amount of diaper waste from going into landfills. There is some concern about the environmental impact of additional laundry, but there are ways to mitigate this like air drying them outside instead of in the dryer. They do need to be changed more often as they are not as absorbent as disposables and a wet diaper sitting against babies’ skin for too long can cause irritation.
Eco Friendly Disposable Diapers
Some companies are trying to merge the convenience and increased absorbency of disposable diapers with the lower environmental impact of reusable diapers with eco-friendly alternatives. These diapers use clean or plant based ingredients which will break down faster than the typical disposables. One major drawback is that these diapers are generally much more expensive than either alternative, and are usually harder to find in stores.
No matter how you take care of your little one’s waste, Brazos Valley Trash & Recycling Services can make taking out your trash and recycling easier. Contact us today for more information.
