A binman has given emphatic instructions on how to dispose of used nappies. The No1.binman, who has become a popular figure on social media with his tips, views, and funny videos on working in the world of refuse, shared a video on Instagram.
He explained which bin used nappies should go in, as well as sharing that people who do not dispose of them properly 'grate' on him. He also mentioned the smell, which is exacerbated by the ongoing hot weather.
Which bin do nappies go in?
He said: "It's the nappies that grate on me absolutely. Why do people still put nappies in the recycling bin? Like, why? They're not e- what part of it would you think is recyclable?
"It's not plastic, so you wouldn't put it in the plastic bin, but people still do. What part of it's paper? 'Cause it still goes in the paper bins. And then food, food waste. Why do you even- no! The nappy's not food waste, all right?
"It might have technically got food waste in it with, but it still wouldn't go in your food your food waste bin, all right? None of them. None of the bins. It goes in your general waste bin.
"Please. Because when you go up to it, the smell, oh, you can smell it a mile away, especially in this heat. No, thank you. So please, remember, nappies go in your general waste bin, put them in a black bag. 'Cause you don't want it just falling out onto the road, 'cause oh, no. Just put, make sure it's in a black bag in your general waste bin. Thank you very much, have a nice day."
Public reaction and council warnings
It was a message many people in the comments agreed with. One person said: "This stuff should be taught in school," while another said: "We find them in the garden waste bins mate, people need educating."
"I have never put a nappy in the recycling bin," said a third, while a fourth said: "We get them on top of the recycling bin, if they had brains they'd put them halfway down."
A number of councils have urged people not to put their used nappies in the recycling as it can ruin a perfectly good batch of recyclable waste, and even make refuse workers ill. Plymouth City Council says they are still seen 'on an almost daily basis in people's kerb side recycling collections'.
The council, which says the total can be up to 500 nappies a day in its recycling operations, added: "Although nappy makers are looking into ways to make disposable nappies easily recyclable and the recycling industry is working hard on ways to bring the service to households, it is not available yet."
People are urged to either put them in their rubbish bins, or use cloth nappies - also known as real nappies - instead. This switch not only helps protect the environment, but could save you money in the long run.
Disposable nappies contain at least 15-20 per cent plastic. The main difference between 'eco' nappies or 'sustainable' nappies, aside from the price, is that they contain bioplastics instead of oil-based plastic.
Bristol Council are working with Nappicycle to recycle nappies into their base materials for reuse. The cellulose cores can be made into fibre boards and acoustic panelling. The plastics are sent for secondary recycling.
