MOTHERS in Oxfordshire are being encouraged to use reusable nappies to help save the environment.

The Oxfordshire Waste Partnership , which represents the county’s six main councils, is helping parents who want to try real nappies by funding 10 nappy trial kits, costing £165 each, to mark Real Nappy Week, which runs until Sunday.

Sophie Garner 35, from Banbury, and Sally Eccleston, 40, from Wallingford, who work for nappy company Lollipop, are helping to run the scheme.

Mrs Garner, of Delapre Drive, said: “Everybody thinks you have to boil real nappies on the stove for hours and they are hard to use, but it’s the complete opposite as far as I’m concerned.

“There are many environmental benefits to using real nappies and they are much nicer on babies’ bums.

“It’s better, because you don’t have a bin full of stinking nappies lying around while you wait for your rubbish to be collected.

“You just put them in a basket and every other day or every third day put them into your washing machine.”

Mrs Gardiner suggested a new set of 20 real nappies could cost up to £300 and be reused by younger siblings, while disposable nappies cost £1,800 per child over a two-and-a-half-year period.

In addition, OWP chairman John Tanner said real nappies saved taxpayers’ money because disposable nappies were dumped in landfill sites.

He said: “When our kids were young, we used reusable cloth nappies, mainly because of cost.

“I hope parents will give real nappies a try, because it’s much cheaper and much better for the environment.”

Mother-of-four Christine McRitchie, 37, who runs a nappy company from her home in Long Wittenham, added: “I’ve noticed more interest in real nappies in the last few months. Saving money and reducing waste are the reasons parents are choosing washable nappies.”

Parents are able to borrow the kits for up to two weeks, after which they must be returned to the supplier and sterilised for other families to use.

If the scheme proves popular, the OWP has pledged to pay for more kits and it is sponsoring a Real Nappy Fair at Clifton Hampden village hall, on Saturday, July 11, from 10am to noon.

However, not all mothers think reusable nappies are the way forward.

Mother-of-five Sonia Denmark, 38, from Blackbird Leys, said: “I always use disposable nappies. I know I probably shouldn’t, but I have five children.

“Imagine all the nappies I would be washing. And don’t forget washing isn’t good for the environment either. It’s a difficult decision.”

For a free nappy trial kit, call 0845 050 4550.

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk