As spokesperson for the national Environmental Protection Agency under the Clinton administration, LA Diaper Drive founder Melissa Bonney Ratcliff was often asked whether moms should use cloth or disposable diapers. Her answer was that it depended on the state and that in a state such as California, where there are long-term water shortages and high energy costs, using cloth diapers was as environmentally detrimental as using disposable diapers.

The population LA Diaper Drive services falls under the low-income guidelines and usually under the poverty guidelines as determined by the federal government. The cost of washing and sanitizing cloth diapers is too high for this population given that paying rent and buying food is usually a struggle. Moreover, since this population does not typically own washing machines, mothers using cloth diapers would have to pay additional expenses either at laundromats or through diaper services to properly sanitize the diapers. With diapers provided free of charge by LA Diaper Drive, these women can eliminate the cost of diapers entirely from their budget.