Parents get to bottom of diaper recycling issue
If you’re a parent, you don’t need to be told that a baby needs a lot of
diaper changes.
In fact, according to TheGreenGuide.com, by the time a baby is potty-trained, he
will have had 5,000 to 8,000 diaper changes. For most parents, this means adding
5,000 to 8,000 diapers to their municipal landfill for every baby they have.
Andrea Pracht, a Crystal Lake resident who recently had her first child, wasn’t
comfortable with the thought of throwing away all those diapers. She also wanted
a diaper made of breathable fabrics that would be better for her baby’s skin, so
she decided to use cloth diapers.
She says many people might not consider using cloth diapers because of outdated
perceptions of them. She points out that today’s cloth diaper is new and
improved. For starters, she says, “You don't use pins anymore.”
Instead, pins have been replaced by snaps or Velcro tabs. Diaper covers, which
were once only made of plastic or rubber, come in materials like fleece, nylon,
and Gore-Tex.
In short, these are not your grandmother’s cloth diapers.
The benefits of cloth diapers go beyond waste-reduction and comfort. Cloth
diapers save money over disposables. Though the up-front cost for cloth diapers
is higher, it does not take long for the cost of disposable diapers to surpass
this investment.
Jennifer Drozt, owner of Sunflower Babies, a cloth diaper store in Crystal Lake,
estimates parents will start saving money after four months. From there, the
savings grow with each diaper change, as well as each child who uses them. Drozt
was able to use one set of diapers for her first and second child.
According to another diaper business, Healthy Diapers, parents who choose to
launder their diapers at home will save more than $1,000 over using disposables.
Even paying more for the convenience of a diaper service will still save
families hundreds of dollars.
Pracht describes her experience with cloth diapers thus far as being “pretty
successful.” She says she still hasn’t ruled out using a diaper service after
her baby starts eating solids.
The only diaper service in the Chicago region is Bottoms Up Diaper Service in
Waukegan. According to its owner, Tonya Conde, Bottoms Up offers cloth diaper
pick-up and delivery to eastern McHenry County.
When asked about the benefits of cloth diapers, she is quick to point out that
kids in cloth diapers potty-train three to four months sooner than those in
disposables. Those months of diaper-free time are another way cloth diapers save
money.
Beyond increased waste, disposable diapers have raised other environmental and
health concerns. Here are some facts from TheGreenGuide.com that parents may
want to consider when choosing a diaper:
– Every year 250,000 trees are required to provide the pulp that goes into
disposable diapers.
– Super-absorbent polymer used in disposable diapers has been, in other
applications, linked to toxic shock syndrome.
– Inhalation of the perfume and plastic odors of disposable diapers may
contribute to asthmatic conditions.
But for Pracht, it is just a matter of keeping a clean conscience.
“I have a lot less guilt about putting all those garbage bags out,” she said.
“I’d rather just do a load of laundry.”
If you would like more information on cloth diapers and diaper service in the
area, visit SunflowerBabies.com or BottomsUpDiapers.com.
For a complete guide to local recycling and recycled products, check the
Recycling Directory for McHenry County at www.mcdef.org/recy.pdf.
For information about how to start recycling at work, check the McHenry County
Business Recycling Guide at www.mcdef.org/busrec.pdf. For hard copies, call
(815) 479-7817.
– Darrell Moore is the Solid Waste Coordinator for McHenry County. The
Recycling Round-up is a cooperative effort of the McHenry County Planning and
Development Department (815) 334-4560, the Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute
at MCC (815) 479-7817, the McHenry County Defenders (815) 338-0393 and the
Algonquin Township Road District. Contact any of these groups with your
recycling questions.
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Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County 
