Wagga Wagga City Council is launching a new initiative to help keep disposable nappies and menstrual products out of landfill.
As part of the trial rebate scheme and education program, Council is offering residents from the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area the opportunity to apply for a rebate after purchasing reusable nappies and menstrual products.
Applicants may be rebated for half the cost of reusable nappies and menstrual products purchased between 1 July 2021 and 1 January 2022, up to the value of $100 per user.
Council resolved to endorse the reusable products trial at its 26 April Ordinary Meeting, paving the way for the new scheme to be implemented for six months.
Director Regional Activation Michael Keys said the initiative aims to encourage the use of alternatives to disposable items, reducing waste going to landfill and conserving resources.
"We believe this is an important step in supporting our community to make the switch to reusable products," Mr Keys said.
"Our expert-led workshops, which we'll offer both face-to-face and online, will give people key information about what products are available, where they can find them, and how to use them – and our rebate will help residents with that initial purchase."
A report to Council said there is a growing movement to change from disposable nappies to reusable modern cloth nappies with two of the main benefits being cost and benefits to the environment.
Disposable nappies are quoted to cost between $3-3.2K per child over the period the child wears nappies, whereas 24 cloth nappies represent an upfront cost of $700 to $800 and last the life of the child.
The report, quoting a 2019 inquiry into Waste and Recycling, said two billion disposable nappies make their way into landfill in Australia each year, constituting four per cent of landfill waste.
