Disposing Eco-disposables

[kiwinat]

I am having a dilemma of choosing which type of nappies to use, but think we've narrowed it down to eco-disposables. They are supposed to be disposed in a worm composter. Does anyone have any experience with this? What size composter do you have? Is the capacity sufficient (first baby, don't know how many a week we'll be getting through! or how long they take to break down by worm method)? Or do you put them in with normal household waste for landfill? (have considered this option, as when they break down there are no chemicals etc going into the environment).
We have ruled out reusables as we don't have a utility room to hide the mess and I'll be going back to work, so may find myself getting stressed out having to wash/dry nappies every other day.
Any advice and help appreciated.

Can I suggest part-time use of both. Reusuables aren't that hard and as you will be hanging LOADS of small washing around the house, a few nappies aren't going to make a vast amount of difference.

I was stunned when my son was first born just how much waste and washing he created, our bin went from half full by bin day to overflowing (we were using eco-dsiposables at the time) and what with leaks and possetting, etc. he got through several grows and vests each day too.

Typically you will be changing a newborn 8-10 times a day and then once they are weaning maybe 5-6 times a day, so that is alot of nappies.

It is okay to wash nappies with muslins, towels, baby whites so even part-time use doesn't have to be uneconomical (and you can use muslins as nappies in the early days, which dry very quickly).

As to wormeries I googled this www.ecobaby.ie/composting/vermicompost01.htm which may answer some Qs. Bear in mind that eco disposables vary as to whether they have superabsorber gel in or not (only Tushies don't) and whether they are bleached, etc.

Hope that is some help

Even eco disposable won't break down in a landfil site as they will not be exposed to the air they will just get buried.

I can't think of a wormery big enough to hold the amount of stuff coming from a baby in eco disps. I work full time, have two babies in nappies, no utility room or tumble dryer, and I use washable nappies. Boy do I feel saintly!! Eco disposables are transported a long way, leak more so you have more baby clothes to wash (so you might as well wash nappies) and are just buried in landfill. Just buy yourself some washables and alternate with some nasty pampersboots/huggies, I'm sure in the long run thats more eco friendly (and a darn site cheaper!) than using only eco disps. I am so much in eco credit for having two in washable nappies that maybe I should have a long haul holiday this year preferably by myself!!

AFAIK no eco disposables totally compost - even Moltex leave behind fastenings etc.

I only wash my nappies at night anyway. THey're finished in the morning and I dry them first thing. a Totsbots fluffle will dry in the air in an hour or so.

I use cloth and have a pack of eco disposables on standby for weekends away etc.

I choose the eco ones rather than mainstream ones cos I like to think that if enough people buy them and create a demand for them then maybe evilpampers and huggies will have to do something about their manufacturing processes and strange chemical ingredients in the nappies.

you must give washables a go.The trick is to have plenty.Its so much better.I do use the odd disposable,but they are such a waste,a big waste of money too.cloth nappies are great once you get used to them,you feel much better.Mine dry overnight on the clothes horse in front of radiator.But I dont care about clothes horses looking a mess,they're great.Just part of family life.Honestly,give cloths a go,they're worth it.

Yes you must give washables a go. I put them on a wash after the kids are in bed, hang em up before we go to bed and they are pretty much dry by the next evening. In summer they dry outside in no time. If I have 2 kids in washables and wash anything up to 80 nappies per week then using about 6 huggies a week still leaves my halo shining.
I just checked on the nappy lady website, and as I suspected, 'eco disposables' do not biodegrade any quicker than 'evil pampers', its just the little bit of packaging they come in that breaks down quicker. I found eco disps leak a lot, thus leaving me with more washing anyway! Cloth nappies don't tend to leak so even though you are washing nappies you have less clothes to wash.
You don't need a utility room to hide the mess, I have a nappy bucket outside, and just bring it in to load them in the washer. Get into the habit of washing them well before you go back to work, that way it is just part of your routine. Good luck and don't be put off with thoughts of washing - after all its the machine that washes mine, not me!!