Cloth Diapers vs Disposables

Environmental Considerations

All diapering choices affect our environment. As stated before, using cloth will result in approx. 228 loads of laundry per child. That's 228 loads of gray water to be processed at Municipal facilities. The water is relatively benign and the human waste is properly treated. Because cloth diapers are 100% reusable (either for other children or as rags) they qualify for the EcoLogo.

The best choice environmentally is the diaper service as they are able to process large numbers of diapers at once thereby limiting the use of detergents and water.

Disposables use more water in their manufacture than cloth do in laundering. Also, the effluent from the various manufacturing processes can release dioxins, furans, and other chemical by-products into the air and ground water. As composting facilities for disposable diapers do not exist in North America, they make the largest single contribution to our landfills after paper and food containers. In a municipal landfill such as ours, just the right conditions exist to mummify a diaper and thereby extending its life to an estimated 500 years. What a legacy for our children! Another consideration is the spread of disease from improperly disposed of human waste.

So Who's Right?

While I believe these figures clearly state the benefits of cloth diapers, who's to say you would be wrong to use disposables? The choice of diapers is just one of many that we make about how to raise our children. Breastfeeding, schooling, swimming lessons, music classes, sports… the list goes on and on. The time we spend loving and teaching our children is by far the best thing we can do for them and for our society as a whole.

Elizabeth Wall - Stay-At-Home-Mum & Doula

Bibliography:

Lehrburger, Mullen & James "Diapers: Environmental Impact and Life Cycle Analysis" '91
Toronto Board of Health "The Diaper Decision" October 1991
Journal of Pediatrics- 1959, Vol 54 pp. 793-800 "Relationship of Peri-Anal Dermatitis to Fecal pH" by Drs. Tamio, Steiner, Benjamin
Clinical Pediatrics- May 1991, Vol.30 "Newborn chemical Exposure from over-the-counter skin-care products" by Drs. Cetta, Lambert & Ross

The views found in this article belong solely to the author and are not endorsed by the DSAA.