THE WEIGHT of more than 20 African elephants is believed to have been saved in waste by a Malvern service getting people to use cloth nappies.
In the last 12 months the Worcestershire Nappy Advisory Service (WNAS), formerly Malvern Nappy Advisory Service (MNAS), handed out 227 tester kits to parents – with 139 of those converting from disposables.
The Environmental Agency estimates the average child uses 0.86 tonnes worth of nappies so the WNAS has calculated it prevented a total of 119.54 tonnes heading to landfill. The group prevented 52.86 tonnes, which is about the weight of a large adult humpback whale, this time last year.
As a result this will save Worcestershire County Council close to £12,000, the service also claimed.
Malvern mum Penny Broderick launched MNAS five years ago but the service has gone from strength to strength in the last 18 months, opening branches in Ledbury, Hereford, Kidderminster and Droitwich along with the main hub in Malvern.
Penny said: “We are really pleased to have helped so many families locally save so much money, as well as saving local taxpayers all the landfill charges.
“We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us, be it financial donations, grants, donated nappies or with their time and energy.
“If anyone wants to know more about cloth nappies, what we do and how to support us, they are welcome to contact us and we will do our best to help.”
WNAS’ library holds 52 kits which are made up of 20 to 30 nappies along with any accessories needed to trial washable nappies for the duration of the loan.
Anyone wanting more information on cloth nappies can contact Penny at [email protected] or on 01684 560526. Alternatively visit WNAS on Facebook.
