Bristol parents invited to join nappy recycling trial

Parents in Bristol are being asked to participate in a new recycling trial for used nappies. This initiative is being led by Pura NappiCycle and will last for a full year. The goal of this study is to find ways to lessen the environmental impact caused by the disposal of used nappies. In the UK, it is estimated that around 3 billion disposable nappies are used each year, and these nappies can take over 500 years to decompose in landfills. The cellulose fibers that are extracted from the recycled nappies can be repurposed for various applications, such as paving roads and creating notice boards. The NappiCycle van, which is white with orange designs, will be seen driving around Bristol. It features a picture of a baby along with the playful phrase 'Holy poops we're recycling nappies' displayed prominently. This catchy slogan aims to engage parents and raise awareness about the recycling program. Last year, NappiCycle conducted a smaller trial in Bristol, which successfully saved 6. 3 tonnes of waste, equivalent to about 31,500 nappies. The idea for this project originated from Rob Poyer, the founder of NappiCycle, who previously worked as a landfill manager. He was determined to find a cost-effective solution for managing nappy waste. After conducting several successful trials across the country, Rob was approached by Guy Fennell, co-founder of the green hygiene brand Pura baby care. Their partnership began in 2020, with Guy expressing a desire to replicate the successful recycling efforts seen in Wales throughout the rest of the UK. NappiCycle has now become a leader in nappy recycling technology, processing an impressive 40 million nappies each year. Interested parents can sign up for the trial through the NappiCycle website. The used products will be collected from the homes of selected families and transported to a NappiCycle facility. At this facility, the dirty nappies will undergo a cleaning and processing procedure, during which plastic and cellulose fibers will be extracted. Rob Poyer stated, 'The cellulose fiber recovered from used nappies can be utilized for a wide range of purposes, including the production of fiber boards and acoustic panels, while the plastics will be sent to secondary re-processors for recycling. ' In 2022, some of the recycled fibers were even used to resurface a section of the A487 road in Wales. If this new trial in Bristol proves to be successful, it will provide valuable insights for discussions with the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as local authorities. Rob emphasized, 'In the rest of the UK, local authorities aren’t incentivized to improve recycling targets as they are in Wales. To replicate the success seen in Wales, we need legislative changes and support from both local and central government. ' He expressed hope that the results of the trial will help persuade those in power about the feasibility and benefits of nappy recycling.