D

espite a growing awareness of the impact that disposable diapers have on the environment, many parents — who have given cloth diapers a try — are still using disposable ones.

Shinta Putri, a staffer at the Finance Ministry and mother of 5-month-old Pijar, said she felt bad about contributing to the growing waste problem caused by disposable diapers.

A World Bank study found it to be the biggest form of non-organic waste polluting Indonesia’s waters.

“Actually, I have tried to use cloth diapers because they are more environmentally friendly and ideally it should prevent me from spending more money on diapers every month,” Shinta said.

However, she only used cloth diapers on Pijar for a week. “I noticed he became cranky that week because the cloth diapers did not absorb his waste as much as the disposable ones. Furthermore, they are hard to wash. There are stains that cannot be removed.”

The resident of Rawalumbu, Bekasi said she spent around Rp 300,000 (US$23) per month on diapers. “It is indeed more expensive, but it buys us more time,” she added.

Anggi Widya, 31, a stay-at-home mother from Pamulang, South Tangerang, said she was aware of the environmental issues, adding that she would use cloth diapers again once her son was potty trained.

“Cloth diapers can absorb pee, but it is not as dry as disposable diapers. He is uncomfortable every time he pees in his pants.”

Anggi said she bought reusable diapers at online shops for around Rp 30,000 per piece. “The diapers I buy look more like pants, with detachable pads to absorb pee and poo.”

She added that cloth diapers made laundry time more complicated because they needed to be washed separately.

“I soak the detachable pads in a detergent-filled bucket during the day. I then wash them at night.”

Most used diapers end up in Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi.

Darka, a scavenger in Ciketingudik, Bantar Gebang, said disposable diapers have no resell value and could not be recycled.

“We always leave behind disposable diapers, feminine napkins and condoms in the landfill because there’s nothing we can do with them,” he said.

Environmentalist Prigi Arisandi, the coordinator of the Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation (Ecoton), said used disposable diapers were still found floating in Jakarta’s rivers.

“Many people in rural of [Greater] Jakarta areas, who live on the banks of rivers, can easily dispose of their garbage in the rivers,” he said.

“Many of the diapers are still full of baby excrement that can be harmful to the ecosystem. Not only for the water biota, but also for us humans who drink water obtained from local water sources,” Prigi added.

Ecoton is now working on a campaign to urge the government and diaper manufacturers to fund a system to make the disposal of diapers more environmentally friendly.

“Producers are responsible for waste resulting from their products, especially products that cannot be recycled naturally like diapers,” he said, referring to Law No. 18/2008 on waste management.

Rika Widjono, 34, a cloth diaper activist living in Kalibata, South Jakarta, said parents should try reusable diapers for the sake of their babies.

“Cloth diapers do not cause allergies and provide better air circulation,” she said.

“They can also be handed down to the next baby. This way, parents not only reduce garbage, they also lessen the financial burden of taking care of their babies.” (gis)