EACH BABY goes through one-half ton of disposable diapers in its diapering years. Sitting in a landfill, it isn’t until 300 to 5G0 years later that those disposables even begin to decompose. So says Jerri Mercer, one of two West Vancouver women who are working to have the area declared a “disposable diaper-free zone.’” The other woman is Andrea Miller, who has become well known for her recycling informa- tion coffee parties and talks. “Plastic diapers can’t be used any more,’’ emphasized Miller. According to the pair, the threats posed by the use of disposable diapers are numerous and serious. Mercer quotes Dr. Mirzda Peterson of the Environmental Protection Agency who has stated that large numbers of intestinal viruses can remain alive in disposable diapers for up to two weeks. f phot Mike Wakefield ONE-YEAR-OLD Daniel Mercer wears cloth diapers, because mother Jerri Mercer and friend + -drea Miler (centre) consider disposable diapers a major threat to the environment. Mercer says it fel... disposables hun- dreds of years before they begin to decompose. Metcalfe nominated From page 9 The mother of six and grand- mother of four also makes volun- teer work with children a priority: “Anything to do with children, I'm there,'’ she enthused. “Children are our future.”” Her current duties as honorary patron of Ronald McDonald House, member of the Board of Directors of the Mel Jr. and Marty Zajac Memorial Foundation and as volunteer with a number of charitable: organizations‘ are just the latest in a series of community undertakings. She gives much of the credit to her husband Bill, to whom she has been happily married for over 30 years. EVERY 2 MINUTES A CANADIAN HOME BECOMES THE TARGET OF A BREAK AND ENTER THIEF! Dimenions 30"x22"x18” 11 - Sunday, May 14, 1989 - West Yancouver Villager Women battle against disposable diapers Such viruses can be leached out of the diapers into the under- ground water supply through the rainwater. The Canadian Medical Associa- tion has stated that diaper rash is three times less likely when parents use cotton diapers, and Mercer br- ings up the more serious concern that urinary infection from infre- quent changing, dehydration from polymers (which absorb up to 80 times their own weight) and toxic shock syndrome are also being associated with the disposable. Added to this, say the two women, the vast number of trees required to produce the 18 billion disposables currently manufac- tured annually are being squandered for a product that is only used once and thrown away. As startling facts such as these gradually come to light, some parents who previously gave little thought to the environmental im- pact of disposables are switching to cotton. North Vancouver’s Sue McMordie is one such mother. Prior to having her first child, there was no question in her mind that she would use disposables because of their convenience value. “IT wasn’t really tuned in to the environment prior to becoming a mom,”’ she said. It was only when she found herself throwing a shopping bag full of diapers into the garbage cach day that the magnitude of the situation hit home. When her daughter [isa was two-and-a-half months old, McMordie switched to a brand of form-fitting cotton diapers — no folding or pins — that she says are DO YOU HAVE just as convenient as the disposables. “‘And they’re so nice aid soft on your baby,”’ she added. Information provided by her cotton diaper company show that the total cost of diapering a child in their Indisposables brand over a two-year period, is approximately $603.11 — including small and large diapers, inserts, nylon pants, one diaper pail and laundering costs. By comparison, says the com- pany, it would cost parents about $2,015.36 to diaper their. child in disposables for the same two-year ’ period. And, as McMordie points out, the cloth diapers can be reused when a second baby comes along. “Quite a few of my ‘mom’ friends are using cloth now,”’ said McMordie, who is hoping more parents will make the switch from disposables. Meanwhile, anyone who attends one of Andrea Miller’s recycling talks will get an earful about the environmental hazards of plastic in general, and disposable diapers in particular. “] would like West Vancouver to be the first-disposable diaper- free zone in America,”’ she said at arecent meeting at her home. Three brands of form-fitting cotton diapers are currently avail- able. For information on ordering Indisposables, call Jerri Mercer at 922-2338. Sweetheart diapers are produced by Baby Love Industries in Calgary, and catalogues are often distributed through Grace Hospital and pre-natal classes. 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