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Cloth Nappy Cash Back Scheme

Why is Council offering a cash back scheme?

Council is supporting the Kaikoura community to achieve the goal of zero waste to landfill. 

 In Kaikoura it is estimated that 353,000 nappies are sent to landfill each year! Disposable nappies being taken to landfill is a significant issue for Kaikoura and throughout the world. 

What is the cash back scheme?

We have tried to keep it simple for parents in Kaikoura.  Here's all you need to do!

1. Parents living in Kaikoura simply need to purchase a starter pack from one of the following cloth nappy companies (web links below),
2. Bring the receipt for purchasing a starter pack into Council, along with proof that you live locally (i.e. a power bill with your name and address).
3. Council will forward you a refund for $20
4. We need you to commit to provide feedback to Council in 6 months time - we will hold on to your contact details and get in touch.

Have a look through the following cloth nappy provider websites.  Each are generously offering a special Kaikoura starter pack - purchase the 'starter pack'  that suits you and contact Council to obtain your refund!

www.econappies.co.nz
www.snazzipants.co.nz
www.bumbles.co.nz

Examples of each of the starter packs can be touched and viewed through Kaikoura's antenatal classes with midwives Justine or Mary. Phone the Kaikoura Hospital for details: 03 3197760

What is the problem with disposable nappies?

The problems associated with disposing of nappies to landfill include:
   • Disposable nappies take over 500 years to decompose.
   • Disposable nappies produce leachate
   • Disposable nappies harbour up to 100 different viruses which can include live polio through vaccinations- many of these viruses can survive for up to 2 weeks. Similar waste from hospitals is treated as clinical waste and is not safe to be dumped in landfills sites.
   • Parts of disposable nappies do breakdown.  During the decomposition gases, including methane are released.  Methane is a major greenhouse gas, which means disposable nappies contribute to global warming.
   • Disposable nappies use 3.5 times more energy, 8 times more non-renewable raw materials and 90 times more renewable materials than reusable nappies.  To produce one disposable nappy uses as much energy as washing a cloth nappy 200 times.

Feel that you can’t afford cloth nappies? Finance packages are available from most cloth nappy suppliers.  The finance packages enable folks who can not afford to pay the up front cost of cloth nappies (which can be as little as $500), to pay for the nappies over a set period of time.  You can choose to spend exactly the same amount that disposables cost you a week- but spend it on cloth nappies that you can re-use and re-use! For example Disposable nappies may cost you $50 a week. Over one year, or 52 weeks that's a total of $2,600. Spending $50 a week on cloth nappies for just 10 weeks will cost a total of $500.  And this will set you up for the next few years of nappy use and allow you to save that $50 a week or $2,100 over a year!

Any questions?

Download the information brochure.
Contact the Community Development Officer.