Reusable Nappy & Sanitary Product Rebate

Cost: A significant barrier to the uptake of reusable cloth nappies and sanitary products is the initial expense. However, the whole-of-life expense of reusable products versus disposal alternatives shows that reusable products can provide significant cost savings over time.

• Nappies - over the first 2.5 years of your child's life, you could save approximately $2,000 by using reusable cloth nappies rather than disposables.
• Sanitary products - depending on the reusable product you choose, after 5 years you could save anywhere from $100 to $400 by switching from disposable alternatives.

Waste: One of the main motivators for switching to reusable alternatives is the general reduction in waste generated. Reducing waste to landfill helps extend the lifespan of the facility and reduce overall emissions.

• Nappies - it is estimated that by switching to cloth nappies, annually one third of a tonne of waste would be diverted from landfill, per child.
• Sanitary products - while harder to estimate, given the variation in products and experiences, on average a single person would be capable of diverting over 2kg of waste by switching to reusable sanitary products. 

Each resident was eligible to apply for one rebate, for 50% of the purchase price, on either:

• Cloth nappies - (includes: cloth swim nappies, reusable nappy liners, reusable wipes, wet bags, and reusable nursing breast pads), up to $150
• Reusable sanitary products - (includes: menstrual cups, light bladder leakage underwear, period swimwear, period underwear, wet bags, and cloth sanitary pads), up to $50.

By covering 50% of the purchase price, these rebates were proportional based on the initial cost of each product.

• Nappies - $300 worth of product, on which you can claim the maximum rebate of $150, could get you approximately 12 modern cloth nappies. Based on the assumption that a newborn goes through 12 nappies every two days, this initial purchase allows for two days of use with daily washing. After six months of use the reusable nappies will be cost neutral, and the money saved can be put towards purchasing the next bundle of nappies.
• Sanitary - $100 worth of product, on which you can claim the maximum rebate of $50, is equivalent to approximately four pairs of period underwear or two period cups. On average, these should cover a whole cycle and last around two years, at which point it is predicted that the money you saved by not buying disposable products will be able to cover the cost of your next purchase.

1. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY
   • 1.1.To be eligible for a rebate you must live in the municipal area of the City of Launceston (formerly Launceston City Council) as set out in section 18 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Tas), be over the age of 18, and meet the conditions set out in clauses two and three, below:
2. ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS
   • 2.1.Applicants may apply for a rebate on the following products:
     • 2.1.1.Cloth nappies including reusable swim nappies, reusable nappy liners, reusable wipes, wet bags and reusable nursing breast pads
     • 2.1.2.Reusable sanitary products including menstrual cups, light bladder leakage underwear, period swimwear, wet bags and cloth sanitary pads

   Which shall collectively be referred to, in these Terms and Conditions, as the "Eligible Products".

   • 2.2.The rebate does not cover any cost or expense incurred by the Applicant for the postage or delivery of the Eligible Products
3. APPLICATIONS
   • 3.1.To apply for a rebate, an applicant must submit to the City of Launceston (the 'Council') a completed rebate application form which includes:
     • 3.1.1.A purchase receipt for the Eligible Products, which must include the company name and ABN, purchase date (made on or after 01 January 2024), item name(s) which are underlined of there are multiple items on the receipt, and the cost of the Eligible Products of which you are claiming;
     • 3.1.2.Proof of residency in the municipality of the City of Launceston (i.e. rates notice, utility bill, driver's license with address details, etc.);
     • 3.1.3.The applicants contact details; and
     • 3.1.4.Details of the applicant's nominated bank account that will be credited the rebate via EFT transfer if the application is successful.
   • 3.2.The Council retains the right to refuse any application that does not meet the minimum requirements outlined in clause 3.1, above.
   • 3.3.If a transaction includes the purchase of both categories of Eligible Products (nappies and sanitary products), then the applicants must nominate one category to claim the rebate against. For the removal of doubt, if no category is nominated, then the Council will either:
     • 3.3.1.Reject the application; or
     • 3.3.2.Nominate the Eligible Products category with the lowest rebate value.
   • 3.4.A maximum of one eligible application per resident will be accepted. If more than one eligible application is received for the same resident, the first application to be received by Council will be considered and the subsequent application(s) will be rejected.
4. REBATE
   • 4.1.The rebate may only be applied to one transaction. For example, the rebate may not be applied to eligible items that have been purchased in multiple transactions.
   • 4.2.The Council may take up to 45 days, from receipt of an eligible application, to process the application. Each application will be assessed and successful applicants will be notified of the outcome via email.
   • 4.3.Successful applicants will be reimbursed for 50% of the purchase price of Eligible Products. To the maximum value of:
     • 4.3.1.AUD $150 (including GST) for cloth nappies; or
     • 4.3.2.AUD $50 (including GST) for reusable sanitary products
   • 4.4.The rebate period commences on 01 January 2024 and concludes on which of the following occurs first:
     • 4.4.1.30 June 2024; or
     • 4.4.2.When all allocated funds are exhausted; or
     • 4.4.3.Any other date prior to 30 June 2024 at Council's choosing.
   • 4.5.If the funding pool for the 2023/24 financial year, has been exhausted prior to 5pm 30 June 2024, the applications will be closed, and no further rebates will be awarded.
   • 4.6.If the funding pool for the 2023/24 financial year, has not been exhausted prior to 5pm 30 June 2024, then outstanding applications which were received on time will be evaluated and awarded within the first two weeks of the 2024/25 financial year.
   • 4.7.Rebates will be deemed to be accepted at the time they are posted to the participants' account. No responsibility will be taken for lost, late or misdirected entries.
   • 4.8.Once this rebate period has ended and/or the funding pool has been exhausted, initiating a new rebate period and establishing a new funding pool will be at the Councils discretion.
5. PAYMENT
   • 5.1.Payment will be made via EFT to the bank account nominated by the applicant, within 30 days of the application being received, given the application is deemed successful.
6. GENERAL PROVISIONS
   • 6.1.Entry into this program is deemed an acknowledgement and acceptance of these conditions.
   • 6.2.The Council reserves the right to vary these terms and conditions in its sole and absolute discretion.
   • 6.3.The Council may, in its sole and absolute discretion, make a determination on whether:
     • 6.3.1.An applicant is an eligible person for the purposes of clause one;
     • 6.3.2.A product, or products, contained in a completed rebate application is an eligible product within the meaning of those products listed in clause two; and
     • 6.3.3.An application is in a form required by clause three.
   • 6.4.The Council will take the necessary steps to ensure that any personal information provided by entrants in this program to the Council remains confidential and is only used for purposes related to this program. The Council will not sell, trade or make available your personal information to others.
   • 6.5.The Council shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever, which is suffered (including, but not limited to, indirect or consequential loss) or for any personal injury suffered or sustained in connection with this program except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law. The Council will not be responsible for any incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete information communicated in the course of or in connection with this program if the deficiency is occasioned by any cause outside the reasonable control of the Council.
   • 6.6.The Council reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who the Council has reason to believe has breached any of these conditions, or engaged in any unlawful or other improper misconduct calculated to jeopardise the fair and proper conduct of the program. The Council's legal rights to recover damages or other compensation from such an offender are reserved.
   • 6.7.If for any reason this promotion is not able to be run as planned, the Council reserves the right to cancel the program and recommence it on the same terms and conditions at a later date of its choosing.