Council to subsidise starter-packs of washable nappies to reduce waste

8 November 2006

From this Friday, 10 November, Christchurch City Council will begin subsidising starter-packs of washable nappies in a bid to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

Through a network of local suppliers, for a limited time, Council will provide a $20 discount which will decrease the initial start-up cost by about 40 per cent.

The campaign, which was first mooted by Hillmorton resident Fiona Summerfield during this year’s Community Plan hearings, aims to cut the amount of rubbish that households using disposables currently put out by up to 60 per cent, and to save them about $650 for the time that children wear washable nappies.

The promotion, funded by the Council’s Community Waste Minimisation Scheme, aims to contribute to the Council’s Waste Management Plan which exists to increase the Christchurch community’s participation in reducing, recycling, reusing and recovering material from waste.

Currently, disposable nappies occupy 2 per cent of the total waste system, and children who solely use disposable nappies will use about 3,400 before they turn three. That’s 60 rubbish bags per year, which will take about 200 years to break down in the landfill.

• Further information about the scheme can be obtained by phoning the Council on 941 8999, by visiting the Council website at www.ccc.govt.nz/waste/nappysubsidies/ or from participating online suppliers: Ecobots, Natural Parenting, Joel-Eze, Funnibunz, Real Nappies, Cotton Tails, Milk, Mum&Bubs, Bumbles and Bohny Babies. Retailers: Mum&Bubs 34 Breezes Road and Milk 1025 Ferry Road.

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