The high cost of disposable nappies

WASTE NOT: Nappy Lady Kate Meads talks at this week's Rotorua workshop. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Rotorua parents have been given a stark reminder of the environmental - and economic - impact of disposable nappies.

Kate Meads, known as "The Nappy Lady", surprised about 75 parents at the first of two Waste-Free Parenting workshops on Thursday night when she told them that outfitting just one child in disposables would cost them $3850.

Adding up all the children the parents in the room imagined they would have - 139 - and multiplying that by the amount of nappies they would use until age 2 1/2 (5500) that amounted to 764,500 nappies, or $535,000 in all. The waste would fill 27 rubbish trucks.

It was the first Waste-Free Parenting workshop Mrs Meads has run in the Rotorua district and was funded by the Rotorua Lakes Council.

As well as nappies Mrs Meads covered waste-free lunch boxes and menstrual products. "If you can change just one thing a day the the outcome is massive," she said.

"If we all do nothing then nothing will change. It's great that we've got lots here. People are becoming more aware [of the environment] and we're starting to educate ourselves."

Councillor Janet Wepa, the council's Sustainable Living portfolio chairwoman, said she was thrilled at the interest in the workshop. "This is a great way to support mums and give them other options," she said.

"A couple of ladies told me about the Nappy Lady and I was keen on getting her here as we want to encourage a reduction in waste to landfill."

Everyone who attended received a starter pack of cloth nappies, valued at $100. It's a chance for them to try three different styles and work out which ones work for their baby before buying more.

"I'm really surprised [at the numbers] but also pleased," said Erin Schulte, one of the mums who approached Mrs Wepa.

"It shows Rotorua is interested.

"I started on [son] Jack when he was six days old. He's now nine months. I had a very good girlfriend who used cloth so she loaned me hers to trial. When I heard about the Nappy Lady I thought what she was doing was fantastic."

- There will be another Rotorua Waste-Free Parenting workshop on June 24, from 10am to 12.30pm. Got to www.thenappylady.co.nz to book.