Why is it important to recycle AHPs (nappies, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products)?
Because we can!
On average a baby will create 6,000 disposable nappies by the time he or she is potty trained. The use of disposable nappies has been increasing steadily over the past 20 years as a result of their convenience.
Disposable nappies may take up to 500 years to decompose, essentially making them present in our landfills forever. Disposable nappies, containing untreated human waste, present significant environmental and public health concerns in landfills, potentially contaminating precious groundwater resources.
The population in the UK is aging and people are living longer. At least 50% of nursing home residents in the UK suffer from incontinence.
In the UK, 18 million women use sanitary protection products which generate about a quarter of a million tonnes of waste per year.
Knowaste's recycling of AHPs is an environmentally conscious and cost-effective solution to our mounting trash dilemma, effectively removing another household item from the waste stream and helping meet government directives for landfill diversion.
How does the recycling work?
Used disposable nappies, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products are collected and transported by a waste hauler to a Knowaste processor or plant. The Knowaste process sterilizes the AHP material and mechanically separates the individual components so the wood pulp and plastic can be recycled. Up to 98% of a used disposable nappy can be removed from the trash stream.
What components of a disposable nappy and/or adult incontinence product are recyclable?
The modern disposable nappy consists of three components: mixed plastic, wood pulp and super absorbent gel polymers. Mixed plastic makes up the nappy's inner and outer layers. Wood pulp, inside the nappy, cushions and wicks moisture away from the skin and towards the nappy's inner core. Super absorbent polymers, gel-like capsules, are located in the inner core, swelling and absorbing moisture. All these individual components of a disposable nappy can and should be recycled, effectively preventing an endless stream of negative environmental impacts associated with the disposal of nappies.
How does Knowaste ensure that disposable nappies, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products are sterilized?
Early in the recycling process, the material is sterilized using autoclaves and then exposed to a special chemical treatment to deactivate the super absorbent polymers. At the completion of this washing process, the plastic materials are removed and sent to a separate device for processing. Plastic components are again filtered and cleaned in a final washing cycle before being compressed into small pellets that can be sold for easy reuse. The remaining organic waste is dried and used to create green energy.
What types of consumer products can be produced from recycled AHPs:
The plastics in nappies and/or adult incontinence products can be used in the production of plastic wood, roof shingles and vinyl wood sidings. The fibre and super absorbant polymers can make biogas or green energy or can be used as a thickener for industrial products.
How does Knowaste make money?
Our revenues are generated through a "gate fee" charged to use the Knowaste process, by selling on the recycled products and also by selling electricity to the grid.
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