A new study from Southern Cross University has revealed that adult incontinence pads are becoming a much bigger waste problem than baby nappies.
The study, also involving the University of Queensland, and published in the Waste Management academic journal, found that by 2030 waste from absorbent hygiene products (AHP) generated by adults will outnumber that produced by infants by between four and 10 times.
Nearly all AHPs are sent to landfill, where the materials can produce significant pollution in the form of greenhouse gases and contaminated water.
Lead author and environmental engineer Dr Emma Thompson Brewster of Southern Cross University said that while more AHP brands are presenting environmentally friendly marketing in Australia, all are sidestepping the elephant in the room.
“The burden on parents to choose the ‘best’ nappy product for their infants places unnecessary stress on many Australian parents, at a time when they are already experiencing the many stresses of raising small children,” she said.
“Used adult AHPs receive far less public attention, but have comparable or greater impact on our community health, environmental health, and taxpayers.”
The research showed that while infant nappy waste will likely remain constant over the next decade, the waste from used adult AHPs will increase.
“This is due to the nation’s ageing population and associated age-related health conditions,” Dr Thomspson Brewster said.
“While our expertise is on the waste management side of the problem, the trend highlights the heavily stigmatised issue of incontinence in the over-65 years population, which may have better solutions related to improved access to medical treatment like physiotherapy.”
AHPs are generally made from a combination of natural fibres, plastics, glues, and synthetic absorbent materials.
University of Queensland’s Professor Kate O’Brien has been investigating the environmental lifecycle of baby nappies for more than a decade.
“There’s lots of discussion about the environmental impact of babies’ nappies, but our study shows that adult AHPs presents a larger and faster growing waste issue,” she said.
“The study is about opening up the conversation to how we can better manage waste and consider other solutions going forward.”
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