Here’s One Diaper That Does Biodegrade

In “A Baby Step for Ecology” (April 5) Connie Koenenn interviewed a mother who preferred to use cloth diapers for her baby. The mother was quoted as saying, “And by the way, it turns out that even the biodegradable diapers don’t degrade either.”

We represent biodegradable disposable Dandees Diapers, and I can assure you they are 93% biodegradable in three to five years in an active landfill, versus the 100-plus years ordinary disposable diapers would take. Dandees plastic is made with a corn-starch additive that includes trace minerals, which accelerate the degrading process. It was developed by Archer Daniels Midland of Decatur, Ill. Furthermore, Dandees use nontoxic dyes.

The maker of Dandees is on the side of the environmentalists. It only hurts the green cause to have its adherents continue to make uninformed statements such as the one made in the article.

LEE GOTTLIEB, Los Angeles