Reduce / Reuse / Recycle

September 27, 2003

 

Recycling Used Disposable Diapers

Keywords: Environmental Technology Manufacturing industry Reduce / Reuse / Recycle 

Japan's Unicharm Corporation, a manufacturer of disposable baby diapers, and incontinence products for adults, and feminine hygiene products, started a new project in August 2003, to recycle used adult incontinence products into compost. The company is trying to find ways to cope with an ever-increasing number of these large-size used disposable underwear products generated at hospitals and nursing facilities, as Japan's society ages.

The recycling system works as follows: Used products collected from hospitals and nursing facilities are first fed to an organic processor which can decompose up to 300 kilograms of waste per day. After adding fermentative bacteria and pH adjusters into the machine, the waste is shredded and fermented at controlled temperatures. Next, the waste that finishes the first stage is transported to a recycling center and are separated into organic and other matter, and then aged further.

The organic matter is recycled into compost for flowers and ornamental plants, and non-biodegradable plastics and other materials are recycled as a thermal energy source, after being converted into refuse paper and plastic fuel (RPF).




Posted: 2003/09/27 11:51:50 AM
Japanese version

 

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