A REPORT claiming real and disposable nappies are equally as environmentally unfriendly has been pooh-poohed by the county's waste forum.

The four year study by the Environment Agency, which looked at every stage of the life cycle of disposable and reusable nappies, found that there was "little or nothing" to choose between them.

The report claims both types involve destruction of raw materials leading to a depletion of resources. Both contribute to global warming - from the air miles to fly in cotton, electricity for washing and drying, fuel used collecting them and the methane produced by disposables that biodegrade in landfill sites.

But Coun John Smith, from Worcestershire County Council's Joint Waste Forum said the report made absolutely no sense whatsoever. "All the report will achieve is undermining the sound reasons for parents to use real nappies," he said. "Suggesting the two types have similar environmental impacts ignores other arguments backing real nappies."

He said the council's Nappaccino mornings are successful with more parents going along to find out about advances in real nappies.

"Many parents that have switched to cloth say their babies are happier," he said.

Nick King from the Environment Agency said the type of nappies parents buy is down to personal choice but it is important to be informed.

"We hope manufacturers of disposables will improve their environmental performance while parents using reusables look at how they launder nappies," Mr King said.

Call Waste Minimisation on 01905 768267 for more advice. on cloth nappies.

and Nappaccino Mornings is available from Worcestershire County Council's Waste Minimisation Team on 01905 768267.