Does your local council have a cloth nappy program? We’ve put together a list of councils around Australia that do. We’ve also included some ways to get your local council to start one!
Making the switch to cloth nappies can be a big decision. If you don’t know anyone close to you that already uses them, it can also be daunting navigating all the information available on the internet. Here in Australia, there are only a few real life cloth nappy shops. These shops allow you to touch and feel a range of different brands side by side. Some baby shops will have limited stock of one or two brands. While some big box stores (like Big W and Kmart) have started selling their own brands. But if you want to see more options, or hear all the pros and cons of cloth nappies, what do you do?
Luckily, many local councils are realising the benefits of families making the switch to using cloth nappies and are offering programs. These programs range from cash back of purchases, trial packs, information guides and even online or in person workshops. Councils that offer programs like these have seen a dramatic decrease in the volume of waste heading to landfill. This has seen some councils able to reduce their waste management budget.
Check out our list of councils around Australia that are realising the benefit of offering these programs.
Queensland
Livingstone Shire Council – Livingstone Shire Council residents are able to enter into a monthly draw to win $100back from their cloth nappy purchases.
New South Wales
Albury City Council -All residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of reusable nappies up to $100.
Blacktown City Council – Residents of Blacktown City Council can choose to attend workshops that help show how easy cloth nappies are. They also run a rebate program that covers cloth nappies, reusable swim nappies, inserts for cloth nappies and reusable breast pads which will cover 50% of the cost up to $200. In addition, Blacktown City Council also has a Reusable Sanitary Product rebate of 50% of the cost of reusable sanitary pads, menstrual cups and period underwear up to $100.
City of Parramatta – City of Parramatta residents can receive half of their expenses on cloth nappies up to the value of $150 and half their expense on reusable sanitary products up to the value of $100.
City of Wagga Wagga – All residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of cloth nappies with a maximum refund of $100.
Federation Council – All residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of reusable nappies up to $100.
Liverpool City Council – Liverpool City Council is conducting a 6 month trial* where residents can claim a rebate of up to $150 for the purchase of reusable nappies and sanitary products with proof of purchase.
Northern Beaches Council – Residents can attend a free cloth nappy workshop which will help parents and caregivers make a decision on if cloth nappies are for them.
Sutherland Shire Council – As an incentive to adopt reusable options, Sutherland Shire residents can claim a rebate up to the value of $50 for the purchase of reusable nappies.
Waverley Council – Waverley residents can claim a 50% rebate on the purchase of reusable nappies (up to $100) and reusable sanitary products (up to $50) making it more affordable to go eco-friendly. You can also register for an Introduction to Cloth Nappies Workshop.
Wollongong City Council -Residents can attend a free cloth nappy workshop which will help parents and caregivers make a decision on if cloth nappies are for them.
Australian Capital Territory
We are not aware of any ACT councils offering a cloth nappy program as yet. If you know of one, please let us know and we will add them here.
Victoria
Banyule City Council – Residents can attend an online, paid cloth nappy workshop and receive two free cloth nappies after attending.
City of Ballarat – Residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of reusable nappies and sanitary products up to $100.
Cardinia Shire Council – All residents can claim up to 50% of the cost, up to $50 for purchases of cloth nappies, reusable swim nappies, cloth wipes, wet bags and reusable breast pads.
City Of Casey – All residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of cloth nappies with a maximum refund of $100.
City of Wodonga – Residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of reusable nappies up to $100.
Greater Hume Shire Council – All residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of reusable nappies up to $100.
City of Whittlesea – Rebates will soon be available for cloth nappies and sanitary products. Make sure you contact council to see when these will become available.
Indigo Shire Council – All residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of reusable nappies up to $100.
Mitchell Shire Council – Participants in the program will receive online small group workshop, a cloth nappy go-to guide and a starter cloth nappy pack valued at over $150 including. In return, participants agree to complete 4 surveys over the next 12 months and take part in a 15-minute phone interview.
Mornington Peninsular Shire – Residents can apply for a rebate on Cloth nappies including reusable swim nappies, reusable nappy liners and reusable baby wipes: 50% of total purchase price, maximum $100 rebate. For example, purchase $200 worth of cloth nappies to claim the $100 rebate. Plastic free period products including cloth pads, cups and leak proof underwear: 50% of total purchase price, maximum $50 rebate. For example, purchase $100 worth of leak proof underwear to claim the $50 rebate.
Towong Shire Council – Residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of reusable nappies up to $100.
Wyndham City Council -All residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of cloth nappies with a maximum refund of $100.
Tasmania
City of Hobart -Eligible City of Hobart residents can apply for a rebate for 50 per cent of the purchase price (maximum $50) of either cloth nappies including swim nappies and modern cloth nappies or reusable sanitary products such as menstrual cups, cloth pads and period underpants. The offer is available until all funds are expended. The first 100 eligible applicants will be able to receive this offer.
South Australia
City of Holdfast – All residents can claim 50% of the purchase price of cloth nappies with a maximum refund of $100.
Western Australia
City of Cockburn – For residents looking to reduce their disposable nappy and sanitary product waste, the City is offering a rebate of up to $50 on both cloth nappy and sanitary product purchases.
City of Freemnatle – To reduce the environmental impact of disposable nappies, the City of Fremantle is offering a rebate of 50%, up to $150 per household on the hire or purchase of modern cloth nappies.
City of Melville – Residents can apply for a 50% rebate of up to $100 for the purchase or hire of modern cloth nappies.
City of Vincent – City of Vincent is offering a 50% rebate on the hire of a Cloth Nappy trial pack for a four week period. It is also now offering a rebate of 50% of the cost of your reusable sanitary product purchase, up to a total rebate value of $50.
Shire of Augusta Margaret River – The Shire will subsidise the cost of up to $100 towards the cost of cloth nappies for families and up to $50 towards the cost of reusable sanitary products.
Town of East Freemantle – To celebrate and thank residents for making the swap to cloth nappies, the Town is now offering a rebate of 50%, up to $100 per household on the hire or purchase of modern cloth nappies to eligible East Fremantle residents.
Northern Territory
Litchfield Council – Residents can apply for a rebate of up to $150 for cloth nappies and reusable sanitary products.
What to do if your council doesn’t have a rebate yet:
- If your council has the ability, start a petition online. This is usually a really quick and easy way to put your idea forward. Make sure you share your petition with as many friends, parent group attendees and even your favourite cloth nappy group (if they allow it); or
- If you can’t start a petition with the council directly, you could consider starting one on change.org. This can be a little more difficult for council to track that those signing, are actually from the council area; or
- Write a letter to your local councillor. We have drafted one that you can use as a base template. Feel free to modify it as you see fit, generally the more personalised the better. You can either add an address line and send this as letter. Better still, copy and paste it into an email.
- Follow up! Make sure that you do follow up on your petition or letter to your councillor. These things don’t happen on their own and need amazing people like you to see them through!
- Did you know there are 537 councils around Australia? Sadly, on 20 of them (that we know of) offer an incentive for their residents to switch to reusable nappies and menstrual products. With your help, we can grow this list and make sustainable products more accessible for more families!
Please Note – While we have put every effort into making this list as comprehensive as we can, councils do alter programs regularly. We recommend that you check with your local council prior to making a decision. This will ensure you have the most accurate information.
This page was last updated on 2 July 2023.