Reusable nappy, period and incontinence product rebate available
Published on 22 March 2024
The City of Launceston is offering a new cloth nappy and reusable sanitary product rebate on a trial basis, in line with the Council's sustainability and waste reduction initiatives and in response to the needs of our community.
The trial is funded by an NRM North Economy Grant and the City of Launceston, and will operate until June 30, 2024 subject to the duration of the funding.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the rebate was designed to assist Launceston residents with the initial costs associated with purchasing cloth nappies and reusable sanitary products, which can sometimes be a factor preventing people from making the switch to more environmentally-conscious choices.
"We hope that this rebate will help reduce waste, support the needs of our community, and help us move towards the goal of zero waste to landfill," Mayor Garwood said.
"This is an opportunity to further discuss not only financial benefits to households but also the positive impacts to the environment."
City of Launceston Waste & Environment Officer Cassandra Jackson said reducing the amount of waste going into the Council's landfill site would help extend the lifespan of the facility and reduce overall emissions.
"One of the main motivators for switching to reusable alternatives is the general reduction in waste generated," Ms Jackson said.
"For example it's estimated that by switching to cloth nappies, annually one third of a tonne of waste would be diverted from landfill per child.
"Taking into account the variation in products and experiences, on average a single person would be capable of diverting over 2kg of waste annually by switching to reusable sanitary products," she said.
"Importantly, the whole-of-life expense of reusable products versus disposal alternatives shows that reusable products can provide significant cost savings over time."
Each Launceston municipality resident is eligible to apply for one rebate, for 50 per cent 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, wet bags, period underwear, and cloth sanitary pads), up to $50
By covering 50 per cent of the purchase price, these rebates are proportional based on the initial cost of each product.
To apply, simply complete and submit the online form on the City of Launceston's website along with:
• Proof of purchase: a receipt with the company name and ABN, a purchase date (must be on or after January 1, 2024), the item name(s) (underline if there are ineligible items on the receipt), and the cost.
• Proof of residency (e.g. rates notice, utility bill with address detailed)
Find out more and apply here.