Disposable Diaper

The disposable diaper’s impact has been hotly debated. Conceived in the 1950s by Connecticut housewife Marion Donovan, disposable diapers hold moisture better than cloth ones, protect babies’ skin from rashes and keep potentially virus-laden poop from leaking out.

However, critics argue that disposable diapers are bad for the environment, producing at least 70 times more municipal solid waste than cloth alternatives. For its part, the American Public Health Association has long supported an informed approach to disposable diaper production and use, and additional research on its health implications.