A new campaign has been launched across Wychavon to urge residents to keep disposable nappies out of their recycling bins.
Analysis shows used nappies are often found among the contents of residents’ green bins, even though they are not recyclable. This costs thousands of pounds to deal with and risks contaminating other recyclables, so they are rejected instead of being turned into new products.
The Ted Says campaign features a loveable bear called Ted, delivering a simple message to residents to make sure they put disposable nappies in the black bin. Look out for Ted on posters at railway stations, supermarkets and other places across the district as well as on social media.
Keep Britain Tidy devised the campaign following research into why people felt it was acceptable to dump disposable nappies in their recycling.
The findings revealed genuine confusion amongst the public about whether disposable nappies were recyclable caused by packaging information. Some people also mistakenly believe they can be recycled because they are made from paper and plastic.
Cllr Emma Stokes, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Resources, Investment and Innovation, said: “When disposable nappies end up in our green bins, they cause major issues at sorting facilities, contaminating good materials and leading to vast amounts of waste being diverted from recycling.
“So, please do as Ted says and make sure you put disposable nappies in your black, general waste bin.”
Residents are also encouraged to consider using reusable nappies for some or part of the time to help reduce the three billion disposable nappies thrown away every year in the UK.
Worcestershire Nappy Library offers expert advice and free trial kits, allowing parents to try different types of reusable nappies before committing to a purchase. Visit the nappy information page on the Let's Waste Less website to find out more.
Cllr Stokes added: “We want to support families in making a more environmentally friendly choice. Modern reusable nappies are a far cry from the terry towelling of old. “They are easy to use, come in fantastic designs, and are incredibly effective. Crucially, they significantly reduce the amount of waste going into black bins.”
Pictured: Cllr Emma Stokes, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Resources, Investment and Innovation with Tim Lewis, Wychavon’s Head of Client Services.