Positive uptake of rebates on reusable nappies

10 March 2025

Hawkesbury City Council’s rebate scheme for households that purchase reusable nappies, reusable sanitary products, rechargeable batteries and their chargers kicked off in November 2024.

So far, most of the uptake has been for rebates for purchases of cloth nappies. Households can claim half of the cost of cloth nappies, swim nappies, reusable inner liners for nappies, wet bags, reusable wipes associated with cloth nappies and reusable nursing pads up to a maximum of $100 per household.

Households can also claim half the cost of rechargeable batteries including AA, AAA, C and D-size and their chargers up to a maximum of $50 per household. Such products are widely available at retailers such as Officeworks, Woolworths and Coles.

These rebates are being offered to help reduce the initial costs of reusable products and encourage a shift away from single-use products. Reusable products may cost a little more up-front but, in the long term, they can save you upwards of $1,000 a year and help reduce a household’s environmental footprint.

Absorbent hygiene products such as nappies and sanitary products make up 8% of the household garbage in our red bins, while discarded batteries in bins are continuing to cause fires and endanger the lives of workers in the waste and resource recovery industry.

To apply for a rebate, you must be able to prove you are a Hawkesbury Local Government Area resident and provide receipts showing where and when you bought the eligible products. Purchases must have been made within three months of making a claim for a rebate.

Rechargeable batteries

You can claim half (50%) of the cost of your rechargeable batteries including: AA, AAA, C and D-sized household batteries and their chargers up to a maximum of $50 per household.

Reusable cloth nappies

You can claim half (50%) of the cost of cloth nappies, swim nappies, reusable inner liners for nappies, wet bags, reusable wipes associated with cloth nappies and reusable nursing pads up to a maximum of $100 per household.

Reusable sanitary wear

You can claim half (50%) of the cost of reusable pads, cups, period underwear and wet bags up to a maximum of $50 per household.

The rebate trial is set for 12-months but will end sooner if the allocated funding is spent earlier. If the program is successful, the program may continue beyond the 12-month trial period.

For more information and to apply for your rebate, visit: https://rebately.co/hawkesbury/ or email support@rebately.co