We get a lot of questions about what can and can not be recycled. I can’t believe this Where Can I Wednsday edition is a reader question, but it is.

Those tiny humans produce a lot of waste. Can you recycle disposable diapers?

Can you recycle diapers?

The short answer is NO. 

Somehow, diapers, clean and dirty – end up in recycling bins. You CANNOT recycle diapers – esepcially dirty diapers – in single stream recycling. You’re not only contaminating the recycling stream, but you’re contaminating the recycling stream with (literal) shit. 

Disposable diapers are trash, not recycling.

A way better alternative is cloth diapers  – they’re cheaper, are more sustainable and have other advantages. Dr. Arnott shared her cloth diaper journey on Green Philly if you want the details.

Plus, you CAN compost certain types of cloth (reusable) diapers at the end of their use.

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher