Diaper Recycling in the United States

California faces great challenges in addressing its shrinking landfill capacities and creating new recycling programs, efforts compounded by a rapidly rising population that is estimated to add 25 million new residents by the year 2040.  Local cities are legislatively mandated to reduce their trash diversions to landfills by 50% or face stiff penalties, so innovative recycling concepts are required each day.

Santa Clarita, California was the first city in the United States to make recycling diapers a new environmental priority.  The City took a bold step to curb the massive amounts of trash entering its waste stream, implementing the nation’s first baby diaper recycling program using the Knowaste recycling technology.

In November 2002, Santa Clarita and Knowaste launched a nine-month demonstration program designed to test resident response to diaper recycling as well as the technical feasibility of collecting, processing and recycling diapers.  It was also the first time a marketable model of a customized Knowaste Diaper Processor (“KDP”) was constructed and operated in the Netherlands.

The demonstration program was a success on many fronts and provided valuable information and feedback to assist in creating and implementing future diaper recycling programs.  Knowaste proved the American public strongly supports diaper recycling, the process works, diaper recycling can be a cost-effective option for municipalities and an active market exists for the recycled diaper materials.  The KDP utilized in this demonstration program has been relocated to Canada and will be successfully incorporated into the operations of Knowaste’s wholly owned subsidiary, smallplanet™, which operates a home diaper and baby care delivery service.

Santa Clarita’s diaper recycling program received international acclaim from environmentalists, city leaders and solid waste professionals, setting a new environmental standard for California and the nation and clearly demonstrating the environmental and public health concerns with diapers in landfills.  It also served as a valuable model for creating and implementing future disposable diaper recycling programs in California and throughout the nation.