Recycling disposable nappies
A number of initiatives have sprung up in recent years looking at ways to “recycle” disposable nappies.
Some of these operations are less environmentally and economically effective than others.
One of the most innovative and effective is the UR-3R operation at Eastern Creek which aims to increase the amount of materials recovered from ‘garbage’ and reduce the quantity of wastes going to landfill, while cutting the costs of recycling.
UR-3R processes mixed wastes from households to produce glass, aluminium, steel and paper.
They then use the left over kitchen wastes and other organic materials in household wastes to make compost.
Nappy wastes improve compost
UR-3R processes the nappies in household waste along with the other organic wastes.
The waste is shredded in the process and the pieces of plastic are removed, so the nappy plastic does not go into the compost stream. But the fibres and the water absorbing polymer in the nappies do end up in the compost.
Recent research confirms that the water absorbing polymer is particular useful in improving the performance of the compost.
The UR-3R people are planning to build new waste processing facilities in other Australian and overseas cities.
When they do, the modern, disposable nappies in the household waste will provide valuable ingredients to increase the performance and value of compost.
New Zealand compost trials
Karen and Karl Upston, in New Zealand’s South Island are testing a locally developed composting technology, called HotRot, owned by South Island company R5 Solutions.
Kimberly-Clark’s NZ Huggies® team is assisting with the first commercial nappy composting operation which is set to open in the Canterbury region later this year.
Kimberly-Clark is always looking for innovative solutions to environmental issues in the manufacture and disposal of its products.