New diaper system a greener alternative

Tag: Lining Cloth Parents riddled with environmental guilt over the seeming indestructibility of disposable diapers and the energy used to wash Lining Cloth diapers now have an alternative.Gdiapers are flushable, compostable diapers that are super-absorbent without being super-nasty landfill lingerers.The gdiaper starter kit is a three-part system: a reusable, washable outer pant, a reusable, washable, snap-in liner and an absorbent inner pad that can be flushed down the toilet or composted.Some work on the part of the flusher is required. The flushable pad needs to be torn open to prevent the contents - farmed tree fluff pulp and super- absorbing sodium polyacrylate - from plugging your toilet. Those innards need to be stirred in the toilet bowl to be sure they break down, but a plastic "swishstick" is included in the starter kit just for that purpose.The company says wet, flushable pads can also be composted, though any solid waste should be flushed. They'll take between 50 and 150 days to biodegrade in a home composter, according to the company's website. In a landfill, where air circulation is poor, the results will be less successful.While it does take some extra effort and cost, using the flushable diapers has advantages beyond helping the environment, says Sarah Thepsouvanh, co-owner of Princess and the Pea, which sells gdiapers. "One great advantage is that you're getting rid of the wet, smelly diapers right away," she says.Some parents use them as an occasional alternative to Lining Cloth diapers, for longer outings or for travelling, when it's not practical to tote around a bunch of soiled diapers, she adds.Gdiapers are available at several local stores, including Princess and the Pea, Planet Organic and Organic Roots. The starter kit, with two Lining Cloth pants, four snap-in liners and 10 flushable refills sells for between $32 and $43, depending on the store. Refill packages with either 32 or 40 flushables (depending on the size) cost between $20 and $26.For more information about gdiapers and to view a video of how they work, go to www.gdiapers.com