Each year there are around 3,300 births recorded in Dorset and, at an estimated 2,200 nappies per baby per year, this means there are about seven million used disposable nappies entering the Dorset household waste stream every year.

The cost of nappy disposal to landfill in 2010 is expected to be around £300,000.

Did you know that

• Eight to nine million disposable nappies are thrown away every day in the UK alone

• 50% of all the rubbish in a one-baby family is made up of disposable nappies

• To keep one baby in disposable nappies for 30 months, four and a half trees need to be destroyed

• Over five million trees are felled every year to supply Britain with its nappies

• Every disposable nappy which has ever been used is still in the landfill site it went in as the chemical parts can take up to 500 years to decompose

Real nappies

Using real (reusable) nappies is cheaper. One pack of disposable nappies per week for up to two and a half years can cost over £1000 per child. Alternatively, using washable ones can make you a saving of over £600 and they can be reused for subsequent children.

It has been estimated one baby produces 5,000 to 6,000 disposables in the few years it requires nappies. In comparison, a baby only needs 20 to 40 modern washable nappies. The choice is yours - 6,000 disposable nappies or 40 reusable ones.

Please visit the  cotton nappy service website (opens in a new window) to complete a survey regarding an additional real nappy laundry service covering Dorset.

• Types of real nappies

  There are a wide variety of real nappies now available.

• Real nappy incentive scheme

  We are offering parents the opportunity to receive £30 off the cost of real nappies.

• Your questions answered

  Questions and answers about reusable nappies

• Real nappy forums and secondhand nappies

  We regret that you are unable to use the incentive scheme to purchase secondhand nappies.

• Further information and suppliers of reusable nappies

  The following organisations and companies in and around Dorset give information about real nappies. Most stock them. Some provide a nappy laundering service.