Question

few years ago we became aware that disposable diapers were a major item being put into U.S. landfills. Some communities discussed banning disposable diapers from their landfills. There were protests from parents groups whose members found disposable much more convenient than cloth diapers. Rationally evaluate this policy from both the community environmentalists and the parents

Answer 1

Solution:-

Disposable diapers are very common in US and 95% of parents in US chooses disposable diapers. The disposable diapers need sunlight and oxygen to decompose. They do not decompose in well landfills. In a study it was found that it takes approx. 500 years for diapers to decompose.

On the other hand there are cloth diapers which are reusable. Now looking at the other related factors for cloth diapers, it takes a lot more water to make cloth diapers mostly to cultivate the cotton and process it. The washing of clothes diapers requires use of more water, detergent and electricity.

Thus disposable diapers has toxic effect due to landfills, the cloth diapers has indirect toxic effect by use of detergent, water and electricity. Thus on broader level the negative effect negates each other almost equally.

Now looking at the convenient to use the diapers, the disposable one is very convenient to use.

Thus form community environmentalists point of view, the direct and indirect side effect of both disposable and cloth diapers should be evaluated and from parents point of view the convenient to use , the effect on kids should be evaluated