Environmental
Trade-Offs
 Cloth diapers cost consumers less and may be more
comfortable for the baby. Consumers have found that
disposable diapers guard against diaper rash, leak less,
and are more convenient.
 Disposable diapers generate 100 times as
Environmental choices are not always simple. One of the
great debates is whether paper or plastic bags are better.
At first thought, the answer seems obvious. Paper is a
renewable resource that should biodegrade easily. Plastic is made
from nonrenewable petroleum products, and most plastic will
likely take decades to degrade.
much solid waste as cloth diapers, but
growing, harvesting, and producing
cotton requires extensive use of
chemicals.
The question? Cloth or disposable?
Source: 57 Ways to Protect Your Home Environment
However, plastic bags take up less space than paper bags in
a landfill. A thousand paper grocery bags stack to about 4 feet,
whereas the same number of plastic bags stands only 4 inches high.
In addition, the amount of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon
monoxide and dust produced in the manufacturer of paper bags is
much higher than in the production of plastic bags. Wastewater
pollutants are often higher during the production of paper bags.
The question? Paper or plastic?
Another classic example of environmental trade-offs is the
dilemma of cloth versus disposable diapers.
 Cloth diapers can be reused many times, so they save landfill
space. However, they may produce more air pollution and
water pollution than disposable diapers because of laundry and
delivery services.
Prepared by:
Pat Hildebrand, Educator, Consumer/Family Economics
University of Illinois Extension, Effingham Center
University of Illinois ~ USDA ~ Local Extension Councils Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
 Cloth diapers cost consumers less and may be more
Environmental
Trade-Offs
Environmental choices are not always simple. One of the
great debates is whether paper or plastic bags are better.
At first thought, the answer seems obvious. Paper is a
renewable resource that should biodegrade easily. Plastic is made
from nonrenewable petroleum products, and most plastic will
likely take decades to degrade.
comfortable for the baby. Consumers have found that
disposable diapers guard against diaper rash, leak less,
and are more convenient.
 Disposable diapers generate 100 times as
much solid waste as cloth diapers, but
growing, harvesting, and producing
cotton requires extensive use of
chemicals.
The question? Cloth or disposable?
Source: 57 Ways to Protect Your Home Environment
However, plastic bags take up less space than paper bags in
a landfill. A thousand paper grocery bags stack to about 4 feet,
whereas the same number of plastic bags stands only 4 inches high.
In addition, the amount of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon
monoxide and dust produced in the manufacturer of paper bags is
much higher than in the production of plastic bags. Wastewater
pollutants are often higher during the production of paper bags.
The question? Paper or plastic?
Another classic example of environmental trade-offs is the
dilemma of cloth versus disposable diapers.
Prepared by:
 Cloth diapers can be reused many times, so they save landfill
space. However, they may produce more air pollution and
water pollution than disposable diapers because of laundry and
delivery services.
Pat Hildebrand, Educator, Consumer/Family Economics
University of Illinois Extension, Effingham Center
University of Illinois ~ USDA ~ Local Extension Councils Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.