composting nappies

cathy353

hi all,

I just recently have a new addition to the family and have being using moltex nappies. I have read on the web about composting using wormeries. It would seem to me I would need many wormeries considering the number of nappies so I was thinking instead of investing in a big pig compostor.

If there is anyone who has a big pig or who composts these nappies any info would be helpful

Cathy353

CJhaughey

I don't mean to disappoint you but I think that these are fairly useless as far as domestic composting goes.
We used them for a bit with our first child and I duly put them in the composter thinking that they would be broken down in a few months, a year later I was turning the composter out and in amongst the compost was a whole pile of these nappies almost perfectly preserved.
Now I know that they say that worms will break them down, but there were plenty of big worms in that heap and not one nappy looked anyway chewed.
I think that the only real green nappy is the reusable type, expensive but also resellable and useful for later additions to the family.
If you have to use disposables use them but don't expect them to break down into lovely brown compost in a year!

10-10-20

Sorry- done it again. I was replying to a different thread.

cathy353

Thanks Prospect.

I think I will invest in one. Do you mind if I ask where you purchased yours, I know they sell them in the ecoshop in wicklow but at 660 euro I had better make sure that is the best price.

Cathy353

prospect

We bought it from the Grow Green Products website, same price.

Del2005

CJhaughey wrote:

I think that the only real green nappy is the reusable type, expensive but also resellable and useful for later additions to the family.

Are these not as bad or worst then disposable nappies? When all the enegy that has to go into cleaning and sterilizing them is taken into account is it not better to use disposable nappies. I know if you can get a comercial operation to look after it they get a bit greener but not too sure how much.

CJhaughey

Del2005 wrote:

Are these not as bad or worst then disposable nappies? When all the enegy that has to go into cleaning and sterilizing them is taken into account is it not better to use disposable nappies. I know if you can get a comercial operation to look after it they get a bit greener but not too sure how much.

If you wash clothes then you can wash nappies, they don't really need to be washed at 100 deg C a hot wash of 60 is enough, all the sh1te is thrown into the loo with the liner and you are only dealing with a little bit of wee.
Disposables are around for ever unless you can get them broken down with a big pig or something similar, (I had no joy).
Plus you can sell the nappies or pass them on when your kids have outgrown them, which is the greenest thing of all, reduce-recycle-reuse.;)

Mothman

While this is not answering OP question,

Our answer to Cloth vs Biodegradable was to use neither

See here

Though we do put cloth nappies on when we are out in unfamiliar environments

jobrok1

I came across this on the net the other day.

http://www.brianmeaney.net/drupal/composting

He's a Green Party County Councillor in Clare. Made his own version of HOT COMPOSTER out of an old fridge. Does the same as a BIG PIG, but without the rolling.

I thought it was a great idea. I have an old fridge that I need to get rid of. I might give this a go first to see if it works for us.

Especially now that my wife and I now have 6 week old twin girls to take care of. We've already ordered compostible/flushables pads, washable nappies and Weenee Pants from Ecoware.ie.

We were going to get a BIG PIG, but if this works and will save us €660 then it's a no brainer really. Just have to box it off so it doesn't look like a busted old fridge thrown down the back of the garden.

cathy353

Hi All,

I decided in the end not to go the big pig route as ecoshop.ie could not give and guarantee information on composting nappies in it. So decided on the wormery instead. Prospect sorry you seem to be having problem with the big pig and nappies. Hope it is sorted shortly.

Cathy353

CJhaughey

We gave up on the supposedly compostable nappies, they didn't work for us, both in terms of decomposition and in terms of absorbency.
I have a feeling that they are made for use in massive industrial composting stations like in Germany and the Continent, definately not for your home composter.
I also really resent paying over the top prices for supposedly green products, have you seen the prices for moltex nappies in Germany?
It would make you sick.
I fear that many green products are marketed at the upper end of the consumer scales and to be seen to be green is just another badge of wealth.

jobrok1

CJhaughey wrote: »

I also really resent paying over the top prices for supposedly green products, have you seen the prices for moltex nappies in Germany?
It would make you sick.

That's why I'm going to try the fridge hot box compostor idea a go instead of parting ways with €660 for the BIG PIG.

Even if we don't produce enough organic waste to fill the fridge compartment enough for hot composting, I can just drill a few more air holes in it and use it as a wormery. Whichever method works best.

Also! We will probably only use the compostable/flushable pads when we're out and about with the girls. They're just going to be a back-up more than anything. Makes more sense than using cloth nappies when visiting friends and such.


I'll do a little home study on the pads. I'll post pictures like the website did and make comparisons to how they say they perform.

ircoha

Mothman wrote: »

While this is not answering OP question,

Our answer to Cloth vs Biodegradable was to use neither

See here

Though we do put cloth nappies on when we are out in unfamiliar environments

While I understand the sentiments behind this, the language is choice

Rather than teaching a baby to eliminate into his or her intimate clothing and cleaning up after the fact, parents learn to listen and respond in the present moment to the baby's needs and communication.

for the older members:

Ma: "Christy: are you eliminating?"

Christy; No, Ma, honest.
etc

monkeyfamily

anyone got any advice about composting nappies in a wormery?