Dirty laundry debate: Disposable v reusable nappies

There is a saying in politics not to air your dirty laundry in public but one assembly member is making it her business to raise the issue of nappies - and more specifically, what to do about their disposal.

DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen is bringing a proposal to the assembly on Monday to highlight the recycling of disposable nappies by local councils.

She is also calling on Environment Minister Andrew Muir to promote the use of reusable nappy products.

McIlveen said it was in response to a recent Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) consultation on climate action.

She said the consultation did not adequately address disposable nappies and other absorbent hygiene products, which makes up about 4% of residual waste across Northern Ireland.

Daera said the products were referenced in Proposal 1 and Proposal 12 of the consultation document.

The document has proposed "non-statutory guidance" for local authorities to "expand the opportunities to recycle more materials".

"As is standard practice in other UK nations, it is our intention for guidance to be produced for councils on what provisions could be put in place for dealing with these difficult to recycle materials," the department added.

An estimated three billion nappies are thrown away every year in the UK, accounting for 2-3% of all household waste, according to recycling charity Wrap.

Speaking to BBC News NI, McIlveen said that bringing her proposal forward was a way of tackling "the growing problem of disposable nappies" and finding a solution to help to achieve the overall target of 70% recycling by 2030.

The Strangford MLA said she would also encourage parents to use cloth nappies.

McIlveen added that her proposal was not about doing away with disposable nappies, but rather recognising people have busy lives and "realising there's been a reliance on disposable nappies so we need to look at alternatives".

It comes as a proposed nappy collection service was dropped by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) recently.

The council had been lobbied by Ards and North Down Borough Council to write to Muir to establish a new separate collection of hygiene products.

However, a DUP proposal in support fell through after NMDDC chief executive Marie Ward warned it would go against the council's position on future household waste collections.

BBC News NI visited Donaghmore, County Tyrone, where Lynn McCrory said she would "love" to use recyclable nappies but "wouldn't even know where to source them" and would have to "weigh-up the cost".

Childminder Shona McCann added: "When I was rearing my children 30 years ago nappies were expensive so I used cloth nappies but now nappies are cheaper and you can't blame busy mums for going for what's easier and less stressful."

Ulster University PhD research student Nicola Watson, who is studying the motivations and barriers of cloth nappy use, said the use of reusable nappies needs to become "normal in society" even from the early days of hospital so that "busy mums don't have to do the research".

A 2023 Defra report, found "whilst disposable nappies have a higher global warming potential, reusable nappies have a higher impact in other environmental categories".

For reusable nappies, "the main contributing factor is electricity used in pre-washing, washing and drying operations", the report said.