Deputy Mayor of London, Jenny Jones will be joined in Trafalgar Square by baby Joseph Bostock Westland in an advance photocall to launch Real Nappy Week 29th March to 4th April 2004.

The event draws attention to the mountainous waste created by the use of disposable nappies compared with cloth 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. Other locations include, Belfast City Hall, Shire Hall, Gloucester, California Country Park, Wokingham, Swansea Town Centre, Neath Town Centre, Port Talbot Town Centre. (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 29th March to 4th April is coordinated by Women’s Environmental Network to raise awareness of the environmental impacts of nappies and to inform parents about modern shaped, self-fastening nappies and laundry services.

The Week is supported by over three quarters UK local authorities (350+) and 100+ MPs along with many other organisations. (To see the full list visit) WEN will publish Nappies and the NHS- waste reduction and a fair choice for parents on 29th March to highlight the important role of the health service in this waste minimisation campaign.

Nappy waste reduction is leading the government’s new waste reduction strategy. Real nappies and home composting have been chosen to spearhead the government's new waste minimisation 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).

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.

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.

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.
More information on Real Nappy Week is available on www.wen.org.uk/rnw