Deputy Mayor of London, Jenny Jones will be joined in Trafalgar Square by baby Joseph Bostock Westland and a mountain of nappy waste at 11am on 22nd March to launch Real Nappy Week 29th March to 4th April with an advance photocall drawing attention to the mountainous waste created when a baby uses disposable nappies.

The mountain of black bin bags representing a year’s use of disposable nappies, is one of a number of nappy waste mountains to be sited in prominent locations around the UK. See here for full details)

Jenny Jones, Deputy Mayor of London said “Most parents simply don't realise the impact of using disposable nappies. They are creating a waste problem that those very babies, and their babies, will have to clean up in 20 or even 100 years' time. I am delighted to support Real Nappy Week which is organised by WEN to inform parents of the choices available to them. Three quarters of London’s local authorities support the Week and I welcome schemes run by London councils to promote the use of cloth nappies thereby reducing household waste amounts. Disposable nappies create an unnecessary amount of waste with up to 5,400 nappies used per baby. By contrast a baby only needs 18-24 real nappies.”

Real Nappy Week is coordinated by Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) to raise awareness of the waste created by disposable nappies and provide parents with a fair choice. The Week is supported by over three quarters UK local authorities including three quarters of the London Authorities.

Nappy waste reduction is leading the government’s waste reduction strategy. Real nappies and home composting have been chosen to spearhead the government's new waste minimisation programme with a target to convert an additional 155,000 households to real nappy use by April 2006. (For further information visit www.wrap.org.uk).

London Real Nappy Week Events: (www.wen.org.uk/rnw for full details)

Launch of ‘Density for Sustainability’, Nappy Ever After’s’ new project funded by the Community Recycling and Economic Development (CRED) programme to increase the use of reusable nappies in Camden and Islington. Camden, Mayor’s Parlour, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street WC1 Thursday 25th March, 11am-12.30pm.

Launch of Harrow Council’s one-off £60 grant for Harrow residents if they buy real nappies or sign up with a laundry service 29th March to 1st April, St George’s Shopping Centre, Harrow 10am-2pm.

Displays of real nappies in Kensington Town Hall, Centre Court Shopping Centre, Wimbledon, The Assembly Halls, West Wickham

The Bring and Buy Nappy Sale Bromley, United Reformed Church, Widmore Road, Thursday 1st April, 10am – 12pm

‘The Real Nappy Play Day!’ Camden Mayor’s wife and baby (Amanda and Rio Ali) to attend this event. Try out real nappies Refreshments and entertainment available. Camden, Calthorpe Project Organic Gardens, 258 Grays Inn Road: Thursday 1st April, 10am-3pm.

National activity for Real Nappy Week: WEN will publish a report, Nappies and the NHS - waste prevention and fair choice for parents, on 29th March, to highlight the role of the NHS in this important waste prevention initiative. Ann Link, Coordinator of WEN said, “We need the health services to engage with the multiple benefits of giving parents a real choice: Increased use of cloth nappies could make significant savings for the NHS, local authorities and parents on nappy purchase and disposal costs, while supporting the development of new service industries, creating valuable local jobs.”

For full details of the Week’s supporters, events and activities visit WEN’s website www.wen.org.uk/rnw

UK Nappy Line - 01983 401959 gives callers details of their local cloth nappy contacts whether they want to buy them to wash at home or use a laundry service.

ENDS
For media information contact Elizabeth Hartigan or Liz Sutton, Women’s Environmental Network, Tel: 020 7481 9004 Email: bibahartigan@aol.com

NOTES TO EDITORS
Women’s Environmental Network is a registered charity which campaigns on issues which link women, health and the environment. Always inclined to break new ground, WEN initiated the Waste Minimisation Act which was passed in 1998.

Real Nappy Week 29th March to 4th April 2004 is the annual focus of the real nappy campaign. In addition to the national campaign, local activities are organised all over the UK to mark the Week and raise awareness of the benefits of cloth nappies both to consumers and the environment. More information on Real Nappy Week is available on www.wen.org.uk/rnw

Waste
The real nappy campaign and home composting have been chosen to lead the government’s new waste reduction strategy with a target to convert an additional 155,000 households to real nappy use by April 2006. For further information visit www.wrap.org.uk

Cost
Home laundered nappies could save parents £500 on the cost of keeping a baby in nappies. You can kit out your baby in real nappies on the high street for under £70. The same amount of money will only buy ten to twelve weeks of disposables. Even taking into account the total cost of laundering nappies at home (about £50 a year) the savings are still considerable.

Use
Women’s Environmental Network estimates that about 15% of parents now use real nappies.
Public Contact Details: UK Nappy Line - 01983 401959 gives callers details of their local cloth nappy contacts whether they want to buy them to wash at home or use a laundry service. With over 1,200 retail outlets in the UK and more than 75 local nappy sellers along with numerous laundry services and mail order companies, it has never been easier to find and use cloth nappies.

www.wen.org.uk for online cloth nappy information and supplier contacts.