We use cloth nappies and have had no problems with them. There shouldn't be any problem at all using them in a communal washing machine, apart from the fact that you will be wanting to do more loads each week, depending on how many nappies you have. We didn't have a drier in the UK (been in Switzerland for 8 weeks now) and it was never a problem, and much better for both the nappies (in terms of their longevity) and the environment. We also make our own liners out of fleece blankets, which you can then rewash. This works out to be much cheaper and nicer for your baby's bottom than using paper liners.
I don't know about buying them here, but there are some great websites in the UK for buying them and which also have loads of information on all the different types, as well as how to soak them, wash them etc etc. We have used popolini onesize (our daughter is now 2), and a range of wraps.
I do a load every second or third day, put the dirty nappies in a bucket after rinsing them in the toilet (if needed), and just chuck them in the machine for a normal wash.
And for anyone wondering about that Environment Agency report published a year or so ago in the UK that said there was no difference in terms of the environmental impact of cloth and reusables, the reseachers spoke to a couple of thousand disposable users (or their parents, hee hee), and about 30 something cloth users. Their results were based on cloth users using fabric conditioners, washing at very hot temperatures, using dryers and then ironing their nappies. Personally, I think anyone who irons a nappy is cracked in the head

The report also didn't take landfill into consideration. I have heard an argument here that rubbish, and therefore disposables, is incincerated, thus taking away the landfill argument, but that is hardly a positive, given the environmental impact of incineration.
Using cloth also saves a hell of a lot of money, and you can use them for subsequent children
Kate