WEST Devon?s waste mountain would be significantly reduced if more parents ditched disposable nappies for their babies and used modern reusable ones instead. That was the stark message from a special roadshow in Tavistock to mark national Real Nappy Week. And it was a visible message too, as a stack of chock-full black bin bags was piled high nearby to demonstrate the amount of disposable nappies used by just one baby in a year. Borough council recycling officers and a real nappy ?expert? were on hand at the event to show off a range of funky reusable nappies in snug fit styles ? and there wasn?t a safety pin in sight! The awareness campaign caught the attention of many parents who were not only interested in the environmental benefits of the nappies, but the cost effectiveness of them too. Reusables can save around £500 for one baby. One mum who has made the choice to use real nappies is Jo Thomas of Gunnislake whose baby Eliza is nearly one-year-old. Jo said: ?They work out to be much cheaper in the long run than disposables and that seemed a very sensible option to me. ?Of course, we put out less rubbish than we would if Eliza was wearing disposables, which makes me feel that I?m doing my little bit for the environment. ?Reusable nappies are very straight-forward and Eliza loves them.? It is estimated that a disposable nappy is thrown away almost every second in Devon and nappy waste is costing Devon taxpayers more than half a million pounds every year. But it is not just the waste, or the cost. According to Fiona Oliver, who sells real nappies through her Gunnislake company Wee Greenies, reusable nappies are healthier for the baby too. Fiona, who was on hand to give advice to parents at the event, said: ?Natural fibres are far better for a baby?s skin and reusable nappies are made in a range of different fabrics these days. One of the most popular is called Bamboozle and is made from bamboo. It?s very soft and feels just like silk.? The Real Nappy Helpline? 0845 850 0606 and Nappy Finder website http://www.realnappycampaign.com/nappyfinder">www.realnappycampaign.com/nappyfinder ? allows parents to find all their local cloth nappy services, including suppliers and laundries.