As long as cloth diapers are washed with non-chlorine bleach and environmentally safe detergent, they are indisputably better for the environment because they are reusable. Disposable diapers put more plastic into our landfills and take thousands of years to biodegrade.

I feel cloth diapers are better for the environment especially if one uses bio-degradable detergent. Line drying the diapers not only saves energy, but the sun is a great bleaching agent. I find that most stains come out in the sun!

Emily and Eddie said it, use environmentally safe detergents, use the sun to dry, and rewash the diapers. We don't need any more plastic landfills.

I agree that I don't like the "permanance" of disposables - However, cloth diapers require a super abundance of laundering. It is not just the diapers that need to be washed, but most every change includes the other clothing and often the bedding. And it needs to be changed every time the baby wets the diaper. The disposable diapers hold a lot of moisture - several times of wetting - and the baby stays dryer.