Council's reusable nappy and menstrual products initiative on offer again

Wagga Wagga City Council has rolled out a rebate program for menstrual products and reusable nappies, following a successful trial in 2021.

The trial prevented about 33,315 kilograms of waste going to landfill.

Wagga City Council said it received an overwhelming response to the initial trial, exceeding its expectations.

Council’s manager commercial businesses Ray Graham said the council was really pleased with the uptake for the reusable menstrual products rebate last year.

“Now we’re hoping to increase the community’s applications for the reusable nappy rebates, given that disposable nappies generate an extensive amount of waste,” Mr Graham said.

“Switching to reusable is so much kinder to our environment and, over the lifetime of the product, is much cheaper than constantly having to purchase new disposable products.”

The council received a total of 232 applications for 70 reusable nappies and 162 reusable menstrual products.

Residents of Wagga are eligible to apply for the rebate on the purchase of reusable nappies and/or menstrual products as part of the initiative.

Mr Graham was pleased to have the rebate extended.

He said the council would prioritise encouraging the Wagga community to start using reusable nappies as part of an initiative to reduce waste.

“The average baby goes through 2500 nappies per year,” Mr Graham said.

“A used disposable nappy, on average, weighs approximately 195 grams, so you’re looking at around 485 kilos going straight to landfill each year per baby, which is quite unbelievable.

“Swapping to disposable nappies is an easy way to instantly stop that extensive amount of waste ending up in the landfill.”

Council referred to a study from the United Kingdom this year which says the estimated weight of menstrual products by an average person over their lifetime can be between 40 and 80 kilograms.

Based on a 40-year span, this equates to about two kilograms per person each year.

The terms of the extended rebate were updated in line with the new focus on nappies.

Council will introduce a two-part rebate system that differentiates menstrual products and nappies, and identifies the overall impact on the waste stream.

Residents will benefit from the updated rebate which is set to offer a 50 per cent rebate on the purchase price of nappies – up to $100 dollars per child.

There will be a 50 per cent rebate on the purchase price of reusable menstrual products – up to $50 per person.

The trial rebate will be extended between 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024 with products purchased during this period by residents living within the Wagga local government area eligible.

To apply for the reusable nappy and menstrual product rebate, click here.