27 April 2012

Fewer nappies going into recycling

| johnboy
Join the conversation
16

Putting the Motherhood into motherhood issues Chief Minister Gallagher is celebrating a reduction in the volume of used nappies going into the recycling bins.

A ‘no nappies in your recycling bin’ campaign was launched late last year specifically targeting new parents with the distribution of magnets in hospital bounty bags, which are given to every parent following the birth of their child.

“The issue of nappies in recycling bins was identified last year as not only interrupting operations at the Mugga Lane Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) but also posing a health risk to workers on the sorting line.

“As many as 6 disposable nappies per minute were arriving in the recycling delivered to the MRF.

“Soiled nappies in recycling items pose significant health risks to workers particularly given that by the time the nappies are presented on the sorting line they are no longer a neat little bundle. When the nappies break open they contaminate our valuable recycling and the sorting line needs to be cleaned.

“In response to these issues, the ACT NoWaste in conjunction with the contractor Thiess Services produced a magnet to be distributed to new parents. To date, over 1,700 magnets have been distributed.

Since early December 2011 the magnets have been provided in bounty bags through maternity wards at the Canberra Hospital, Calvary John James and Bruce hospitals, child and family health centres, paediatric wards and day care centres. The magnets are also being distributed by ACT NOWaste staff at community and other appropriate events.

“Anecdotally the ‘no nappies in your recycling bin’ campaign is already having a positive impact. Theiss Services has reported that since the introduction of the campaign the presence of nappies on the sorting line has reduced by around half and that quantitative data on nappies will be collected over the coming months to help evaluate the success of the campaign.

Join the conversation

16
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
screaming banshee7:38 am 29 Apr 12

The same people that pull over to change their kids on the side of the road and throw the nappy on the ground, or worse out the window of a moving car. Seen it happen, one would presume this is because there was no recycling bin handy?

That’s

Bluenomi said :

angrymotorist1 said :

Just as soon as they give me a green bin that’s big enough, I’ll start putting the soiled nappies in it. Until then, they go in the one with the yellow lid.

You know, everyone I know who has the complaint has a green bin full of things that should be in the recycling bin. A bit of quick sorting and everything fits. I know, I have one in nappies and we never have a problem getting them to fit.

+1 my yellow bin is bigger because the majority of my stuff is recylable! And assuming other people buy reasonably similar groceries and stuff with similar packaging to me, which is plausible…that would be the case for them too. It’s difficult to fill up the green bin unless you have a huge household or don’t know how to recycle properly.

Also who the hell would put nappies in recycling?! That’s so weird and dirty and stupid.

angrymotorist1 said :

Just as soon as they give me a green bin that’s big enough, I’ll start putting the soiled nappies in it. Until then, they go in the one with the yellow lid.

lol nice troll. No-one could spout such bollocks and helpless self-entitlement with a straight face.

Friends, for this we need the recycler’s prayer:

God, grant us the serenity
To bin the things we cannot recycle,
Courage to recycle the things we can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.

angrymotorist1 said :

Just as soon as they give me a green bin that’s big enough, I’ll start putting the soiled nappies in it. Until then, they go in the one with the yellow lid.

You know, everyone I know who has the complaint has a green bin full of things that should be in the recycling bin. A bit of quick sorting and everything fits. I know, I have one in nappies and we never have a problem getting them to fit.

nsn said :

angrymotorist1 said :

Just as soon as they give me a green bin that’s big enough, I’ll start putting the soiled nappies in it. Until then, they go in the one with the yellow lid.

In a comment on a story relating to soiled nappies, I hope I can get away with saying: what a pile of crap.

It’s just laziness. Don’t try to dress it up as some form of (ineffective, idiotic) protest.

+1

Time to start imprinting disposables with the name of the purchaser and returning them straight into their lounge room after suitable time for ripening.

angrymotorist1 said :

Just as soon as they give me a green bin that’s big enough, I’ll start putting the soiled nappies in it. Until then, they go in the one with the yellow lid.

In a comment on a story relating to soiled nappies, I hope I can get away with saying: what a pile of crap.

It’s just laziness. Don’t try to dress it up as some form of (ineffective, idiotic) protest.

crackerpants12:20 pm 27 Apr 12

As soon as we realised we were wheeling a bin full of disposables down to the kerb every week, we switched to cloth (MCNs, not the labour-intensive terry-cloth type). That fact that it was high summer provided added incentive. Surprisingly easy, and has saved us a small fortune.

Don’t put your sposies in the recycling bin. Disgusting. Find another way.

angrymotorist112:04 pm 27 Apr 12

Just as soon as they give me a green bin that’s big enough, I’ll start putting the soiled nappies in it. Until then, they go in the one with the yellow lid.

The worst thing about idiots who put nappies in recycle bins is that they are proven breeders.

Bear in mind the yellow bin is bigger.

If you can’t close the lid on the green bin what are you going to do with that nappy?

I just think that people are inherently lazy. If the yellow bin is closest, nappy goes in.

Velveteen Rabbit11:33 am 27 Apr 12

That’s revolting and lazy – can’t believe that anyone would think it was ok to do that!!

I know people who put stuff in the recycling that THEY think SHOULD be recyclable – as if it’s some kind of protest.

Often the same people incorrectly assume that anything with a ‘recycling triangle’ is recyclable by the local facility.

Illegal dumping

It worries me how many idiots are out there that think nappies are recyclable. There’s nothing about them that indicates that they would be even close to being recyclable.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.