What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

[saysfaa]

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I would love to hear what other people are doing to reduce their garbage footprint.

The latest thing I am doing is helping dd do cloth diapers with my grandbabies. I ordered the diapers last week and they came today.

Reducing garbage footprint is only a small part of why I've been encouraging this, though. Did you know diaper rash was very rare before the advent of the super absorbing polymers that wick moisture out of skin too? I didn't but today the pediatrician told dd that the babies' rashes were so mild they aren't even considered rashes. I know what healthy skin looks like, though. I haven't anything to dd because she has already been doing everything that can be done except cloth diapers (yet) or going without diapers. Incidently, the dr recommended going without diapers periodically.

Healthy skin is also only part of my motivation.

In finding the supplies to order, I discovered cloth diapers with old-fashioned plastic pants are the least likely to leak for adults with incontinence, at least according to many websites of the general public talking about that issue. And, evidently, are often the most comfortable if one don't mind thbr bulk.

I liked plastic pants best when my kids were babies. They are still available. Walmart carries the bigger sizes. The smallest size takes some searching, or luck, maybe, but is also still available.

 

[gtaus]

The latest thing I am doing is helping dd do cloth diapers with my grandbabies. I ordered the diapers last week and they came today.

I, and all my siblings, grew up with cloth diapers. When you visited another person's house, you could tell if they had babies as soon as you walked in. That's about all I remember.

I did a few rotations in Maternity as a nursing student. We only used disposable diapers. I don't remember any discussion as to the pros and cons of cloth versus disposable. But you bring up some good points.

I knew that disposable diapers take forever to break down in a landfill...

but I was surprised to learn...

Sounds like a good area for someone to invent environmentally friendly diapers that maybe could be composted. Maybe something like a natural liner with those plastic pants you talked about. From what I understand, urine-soaked diapers would be safe to compost, but feces soiled diapers would have to be considered as hazardous waste.

 

[BDutch]

What I always felt bad about was how much useable stuff gets tossed into the garbage that is junked only because someone got tired of it. Or maybe they finished their project, and they did not want to keep the equipment around (e.g. scaffolding). We do not have a system in place to drop off that kind of stuff and let other people take it if they can use it.

Stuff that is still looking good/still working/complete is sold to customers as second hand. Some municipalities give people in debt / poor people a permit to shop some items for free. The people who make this possible are volunteers.

 

[saysfaa]

...but I was surprised to learn..

The diapers I bought are 100% Oeko-Tex Standard100 certified cotton. They will decompose in a standard compost pile and be safe for a vegetable garden. Or could safely be used as tinder after they wear out too much to use as diapers (usually after years of constant use) and then wear out too much to use as rags anymore.

The pee and poop get processed in the septic or sewer system the same way pee and poop from the rest of the family does. Not put in a landfill like the pee and poop in disposable diapers.

I'll tell you in a couple of weeks whether the cloth system stinks more. My son in law has a very sensitive nose.

The instructions say it won't stink. If the diapers stink when ready to use or when pee hits them, they aren't clean enough. They explain how to learn enough about your washing machine, water, laundry products to get the diapers clean. I learned a lot about washing machines.

The instructions also cover a how to handle the dirty diapers waiting to be washed so they don't stink either. One thing that stood out is don't seal them in diapers in an air-proof bag or diaper pail. They need air to not stink or mold. I'm old enough to remember before disposables too, sort of. I remember the first disposable diaper I saw, anyway. I remember a lot of homes with diaper pails that sealed. Of course, they had to be opened to add another diaper. Adding the inner liner bags that sealed between each diaper didn't help much. There was quite a lot of other advice for different ages and stages of babies, different home or away situations, different preferences of people.

 

[NanaK]

I used cloth diapers with my daughter. Her bottom would stay red if I put store bought diapers on her for more than 1 day.

The diapers I bought are 100% Oeko-Tex Standard100 certified cotton. They will decompose in a standard compost pile and be safe for a vegetable garden. Or could safely be used as tinder after they wear out too much to use as diapers (usually after years of constant use) and then wear out too much to use as rags anymore.

The pee and poop get processed in the septic or sewer system the same way pee and poop from the rest of the family does. Not put in a landfill like the pee and poop in disposable diapers.

I'll tell you in a couple of weeks whether the cloth system stinks more. My son in law has a very sensitive nose.

The instructions say it won't stink. If the diapers stink when ready to use or when pee hits them, they aren't clean enough. They explain how to learn enough about your washing machine, water, laundry products to get the diapers clean. I learned a lot about washing machines.

The instructions also cover a how to handle the dirty diapers waiting to be washed so they don't stink either. One thing that stood out is don't seal them in diapers in an air-proof bag or diaper pail. They need air to not stink or mold. I'm old enough to remember before disposables too, sort of. I remember the first disposable diaper I saw, anyway. I remember a lot of homes with diaper pails that sealed. Of course, they had to be opened to add another diaper. Adding the inner liner bags that sealed between each diaper didn't help much. There was quite a lot of other advice for different ages and stages of babies, different home or away situations, different preferences of people.

I agree with all of this!

100% cotton is a natural plant product. It will breakdown fairly quickly in the environment. Just don't use a synthetic/cotton mix. That will take much longer to break down. Usually diapers are repurposed after baby doesn't need them anymore. Great for dusting or washing cars, etc. By the time they go to the landfill there is not much left.

If handled correctly the diaper pail will not cause an odor problem.

After washing, I always tried to hang them on the closeline to dry. Sunlight is a great disenfectant and makes them smell good.

If more people used cloth diapers it would keep tons of garbage out of landfills.

 

[gtaus]

Stuff that is still looking good/still working/complete is sold to customers as second hand. Some municipalities give people in debt / poor people a permit to shop some items for free. The people who make this possible are volunteers.

We have a local church charity Thrift Shop that I frequent. I don't mind buying used stuff if I can use it. A big percentage of the Thrift Store profits go to local charities. Somethings I might buy an item that turns out does not work correctly but I'll just consider that a donation to our local charities.

That Thrift Store is run mostly by church volunteers. I have been told that will help out poor people with free stuff, but that is not advertised a lot.

But they limit the items that they will take. For example, at the landfill I found a $250.00 set of scaffolding that had been used for a project and then discarded. It was in good shape. Something like that our Thrift Store would not take even as a donation because they don't have the space to store/sell it.

Some local people are not too happy about having a Thrift Store in the neighborhood. The Thrift Store used to put outside the store some free items for people to take if the store thought it would be a slow mover or if the item needed to be cleaned or required a small repair. I'm pretty good at fixing stuff, so I would pick up some free items and restore them. Sometimes, I would repurpose an item for a different use. Anyways, some of the neighbors complained so all that stuff that used to be offered for free is now directly dumped into a large garbage bin.

I think that's a shame to just toss all those items directly into the large trash bins. But I don't live in that neighborhood and don't understand the concerns of those living there that are complaining.

 

[gtaus]

If more people used cloth diapers it would keep tons of garbage out of landfills.

Considering it can take hundreds of years for disposable diapers to degrade in a landfill, you would think there would be more interest in keeping diapers out of the waste stream.

 

[kattabelly]

From what I understand, urine-soaked diapers would be safe to compost, but feces soiled diapers would have to be considered as hazardous waste.

Plenty of people manage to safely compost human faeces in backyard type composting systems.

 

[gtaus]

Plenty of people manage to safely compost human faeces in backyard type composting systems.

I don't know what the regulations are in Scotland, but here in Minnesota we have some strict laws regarding human waste. I don't know if the laws vary from state to state, but I suspect they do. Plus, I live on lake property and have even more strict laws and regulations that I have to follow. That's not a bad thing. I don't want our lakes polluted with human waste or other toxic runoff. We have to pay a small fortune to have an improved septic system installed on our property, but it protects the lake.

Anyway, here are some general regulations we have in my state on Minnesota...

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In Minnesota, composting human feces is subject to strict public health and environmental regulations. It is not broadly permitted for individual or backyard use without specialized systems and approvals. Composting toilets are allowed under specific conditions, but open composting of human waste is generally prohibited.

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Composting Human Waste in Minnesota: What’s Allowed​

1. Composting Toilets Are Permitted

• Minnesota allows composting toilets as part of approved alternative wastewater treatment systems.
• These systems must be certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and comply with Chapter 7080 of the Minnesota Administrative Rules.
• Composting toilets must be:
  • Properly vented
  • Enclosed and sealed
  • Regularly maintained
  • Approved for use in residential or seasonal dwellings

2. Human Feces Is Considered “Sewage”

• Under Minnesota law, human feces is classified as sewage, and its handling is regulated under MPCA sewage treatment rules.
• Open composting of human feces (e.g., in backyard piles or bins) is not permitted due to risks of pathogen transmission, groundwater contamination, and odor.

3. Disposal of Composting Toilet Waste

• Waste from composting toilets must be disposed of at a permitted sewage treatment facility or processed through approved methods.
• You cannot legally spread or bury untreated human waste on your property.

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When I was in the Navy, we visited many countries that used human manure to fertilize their crops. We would have to wash all fresh fruits and vegetables in a bleach wash to kill off pathogens before preparing them to eat. However, if you ate anything outside in the town where you got liberty, you would most often get sick from contaminated food or water. Visting those countries was a great adventure, but we often ended up being sick for a few days after we left port.

 

[kattabelly]

I don't know what the regulations are in Scotland,

I don't think there are regulations when it comes to composting your own waste on your own property. No one pays them any mind, if there are!