Looking for a nappy ending

Diapers (nappies) and feminine hygiene products (menstrual pads and tampons) are emerging as a critical challenge in the waste management. They account for a disproportionate share of municipal waste, according to work in the International Journal of Sustainable Society.

An analysis conducted across 31 Slovak cities showed that these products alone make up 10% of total mixed waste in both urban and rural settings. There have been recent efforts to improve waste reduction and recycling. However, addressing the environmental impact of this waste stream remains a significant challenge in the Slovak Republic and elsewhere and is hindering sustainability efforts in many places.

The research points out that diapers and sanitary products, though comprising a substantial propportion of waste, are not covered by current waste legislation. These items, primarily comprising plastics and superabsorbent polymers as well as biological materials after use, represent a major problem in recycling and are generally fed into landfill or incinerated rather than being recycled in most places.

While their contents after use will degrade biologically, the materials from which they are manufactured might take centuries to decompose in landfills. While the global market produces billions of units annually, the lack of regulation and effective recycling for these products exacerbates the waste management issues, especially in the Slovak Republic, where recycling rates overall are below EU averages.

The study points to potential solutions, including composting, which has been shown to reduce the volume of diaper waste. However, these methods are limited by the non-biodegradable materials involved. Emerging technologies, such as vermicomposting and thermal pyrolysis, offer promising alternatives by recycling used diapers into usable materials. However, these technologies require proper infrastructure and legislative support to be fully effective.

Peterkova, V., Ilko, I., Martincova, R. and Preinerova, K. (2025) ‘Analysis of municipal waste and management of baby nappies and sanitary napkins in the Slovak Republic’, Int. J. Sustainable Society, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.355–369.