Composting nappies?

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Composting nappies?

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Bazil

Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 181
Location: Near Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Posted: Tue Oct 04, 05 5:19 pm Post subject: Composting nappies?

I read an article about composting nappies and the nappies we use are apparently the most biodegradable ones available due to there being no plastic outer layer. I also read that a wormery will break down the nappies in a matter of months as long as they are allowed to let the wee go stale so as not to kill off the worms.

Does anybody else compost their nappies?

and please don't tell me to use reusable or terry nappies, start your own thread!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45669
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Oct 04, 05 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Composting nappies?

Bazil wrote:

and please don't tell me to use reusable or terry nappies, start your own thread!

What about this: I saw an ad for biodegradable sanitary towels the other day, are they compostable?

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Tue Oct 04, 05 6:09 pm Post subject:
You should find this site interesting https://www.weblife.org/humanure/default.html it was posted on here, by Haddock, in response to a dog poo thread, as pet poo is touched upon on that site.

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 05 10:56 am Post subject:
I'd contact the manufacturer, some are compostable but only on large scale composting sites and may still have a residue of the absorbant materials kicking around after the biodegradeable element has gone. I'd also shy away from putting dirty ones in as a domestic heap may not kill the pathogens in the poo.

Trev

Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 69
Location: Wokingham DC, Berkshire

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 05 11:28 am Post subject:

My major concern would be the pathogens too. "Industrial" heaps do get up to some serious temperatures and can probably cope with these - your average domestic heaps just can't. I believe the intention of these NatureBoy/Girl nappies are to breakdown in the soil of a landfill - but, again, this does nowt to address the methane et al this mostly anaerobic process produces.

Now, if we could follow the Dutch example that Penney highlighted on No Waste Like Home a few weeks ago or have such bionappies included in the green waste policy or some magic alternate solutions...

We're going for a middle ground - "Real" (Bambino Mio et al) nappies during the day & NatureBoy at night (for their absorbancy & leak-proofness (if that's anywhere near an actual word)) with compostable nappysacks. The old Terrys (we've tried all sorts...

) are proving useful in potty training #1 child or, rather, with the accidents.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 05 11:31 am Post subject:

Trev wrote:

we've tried all sorts...

Aren't they a bit small and non-absorbent?

Trev

Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 69
Location: Wokingham DC, Berkshire

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 05 12:07 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

Trev wrote:

we've tried all sorts...

Aren't they a bit small and non-absorbent?

Yes, and try stopping the child eating them...!

thos

Joined: 08 Mar 2005
Posts: 1139
Location: Jauche, Duchy of Brabant (Bourgogne-ci) and Charolles, Duchy of Burgundy (Bourgogne-�a)

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 05 12:54 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

Trev wrote:

we've tried all sorts...

Aren't they a bit small and non-absorbent?

They work for girls. You just need a hammer and screwdriver.

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 05 1:04 pm Post subject:

Trev wrote:

for their absorbancy & leak-proofness (if that's anywhere near an actual word))

It will be in German.

mark

Joined: 14 Jul 2005
Posts: 2191
Location: Leeds

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 05 2:31 pm Post subject:

worm composting does not kill pathogens!

For this you ned more traditional aerobic composting methods!

composting toilets in winter in this country need either to have very large composting tanks or to use some controlled heating method to ensure they reach a high enough temperature to kill pathogens!

If you find any weed seeds survive in your garden compost - you really should conclude it is not safe for composting human poo or any poo from carniverous animals.

Youare safe with herbivore poo!
By the way - vegitarian human poo is not safe!

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