Mark, more yuck than the thousands of tons of human waste in landfill? It's really quite bizarre that it's not classed as biohazard...

Tracy, Holmfirth,

Disposable diapers are not cheap and given the rate at which the cost of living is rising, I would suggest that the 6% increase in washable nappy sales is more likely linked to saving money than to environmental issues.

Elizabeth Crow, Warsaw, Poland

It's a slippery slope with Green Fundamentalism (ad absurdum) and no abate at sight.

Vickie, Tel-Aviv,

The EA report talk about the energy consumed - what about the earth resources used and disposed of - surely it makes sense to re-use. Use green energy to wash them - then they cannot argue. Not sure biodegradable disposables degrade surrounded by no-degradable rubbish in landfill.

Russell Davis, London, England

A 6% rise is hardly significant.

Mark, Westminster, London, UK

Reusable nappies? Yuck!

Mark, Harrogate, England

How about a happy compromise? Biodegradable disposable nappies? Nature, Moltex, Bambo Nature!!! Yippee for technology!

M, Hoylake, UK

That Enviromental Agency Report seems to be splitting 'eco' hairs in a very damaging way. Common sense says that washing nappies and reusing them rather than throwing 8 million unrecyclable bundles of plastic/human waste matter in landfill is an altogether more sustainable and realistic option.

TK, London,

How does the E.A. work that out then? A cloth nappy and the energy/water needed to clean it, is just as environmentally damaging as the factory, the chemicals, the electricity, the production of materials etc necessary to produce and ship one disposable? And chickens have lips... sheesh.

Jim, Wrexham, UK

Disposable nappies are dire for the environment in manufacture and disposal - the Environment Agency's report of 2005 was infamously based on a question posed to only 10 people. We now potty train our babies about 18months later than we did 25 years ago at a time when waste reduction is paramount.

Maddy , London,

When I was little I asked my gran what people did before they invented nappies and she said she didn't know. Well, the answer is the mother or primary carer just learns to read the signals of the baby. This is obviously nicer for the baby as it doesn't have to stay wrapped in its own poo.

sam, reading,

On holiday in China I saw babies on the street with 'open' clothing held over the gutter to pee while the mother whistled through her teeth to encourage them. Asking my Chinese friend about it she was embarrased, 'It is only poor people,' she said. Asked how the mother learned, she said, 'Quickly.'

eric, paris,