Italian Plant Converted Used Diapers Into Raw Materials
A specialized facility in Italy now processes absorbent hygiene products to recover cellulose, plastic, and polymers.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Babies
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A recycling plant located in Lovadina di Spresiano, Italy, annually processes 10,000 metric tons of used diapers. The facility utilizes an autoclave system to sterilize waste and extract materials for reuse in various manufacturing sectors.
Why it matters
Recycling used hygiene products significantly reduces the massive volume of diaper waste currently sent to landfills. However, the development of a comprehensive collection infrastructure remains the primary limiting factor for scaling this process globally.
The Italian facility recovers 330 pounds of cellulose, 165 pounds of plastic, and 165 pounds of polymer for every metric ton processed. These recovered materials are diverted from landfills to support paper, fabric, and insulation industries.
The players
Lovadina di Spresiano
This Italian town serves as the primary site for the specialized industrial recycling plant.
Ghent
This Belgian city hosts a diaper recycling operation currently serving 30,000 children.
The details
The recycling process employs pressurized steam and water vapor within an autoclave to sterilize the materials and loosen components. A rotating cylinder separator then splits the dried output into distinct streams of cellulose, plastic, and polymer for industrial applications.
Timeline
A recycling plant in Arnhem ceased operations in 2007.
A new demonstration plant opened in Treviso in midsummer 2025.
A separate recycling facility launched in Ghent, Belgium, in 2025.
Culture Shift
This recycling effort represents a departure from traditional waste disposal as global sustainability goals prioritize the circular economy. Scaling this model challenges the long-standing reliance on landfills for the 3.5 million tons of annual diaper waste produced in the US.
While the technology is currently limited to specific European regions, successful scaling may eventually influence waste management standards for households globally. Local implementation depends on municipalities adopting specific collection infrastructure for used hygiene products.
The takeaway
Advancements in autoclave sterilization have successfully proven that absorbent hygiene products can be repurposed into valuable industrial components. Communities looking to reduce landfill usage may eventually look to these European models to guide their own local waste recovery policies.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in infant care at /lifestyle/family/babies/.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ecoportal.
Live Poll
Should your community implement mandatory separate collection for used diapers to enable recycling?
