A new £50 voucher scheme has been launched to help Wychavon families switch to reusable nappies, cut household waste and save money.
Qualifying residents will be able to claim £50 towards the cost of reusable nappies through The Nappy Lady, the UK's largest online reusable nappy retailer. Parents and carers will also be able to access expert advice to help them choose the products that best suit their family's needs.
The average baby gets through about 3,796 disposable nappies before they are potty trained. While reusable nappies cost more to buy initially, families can save up to £1,000 over the time their child is in nappies, even after taking washing costs into account.
Families also don't have to make the switch completely. Using just one reusable nappy a day alongside disposable nappies can keep around 900 nappies out of black bins over a child's nappy-wearing years.
To qualify for the scheme, applicants must live in Wychavon and have a child under the age of two. Proof of address and the child's age will be required as part of the application.
Wychavon also hopes to work with local groups to help promote the scheme and encourage more families to give reusable nappies a try.
Cllr Rick Deller, who co-founded Wychbold Baby Bank, is a supporter of reusable nappies.
“We use reusable nappies with our twins and found they don’t have to be an all-or-nothing choice. We use reusable nappies when we’re at home but on days out we switch to disposable nappies for the convenience. This means we still save money and reduce our waste. It’s great to see Wychavon offer this grant and I encourage more parents and carers to give reusable nappies a try.”
Cllr Emma Stokes, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Resources, Investment and Innovation, said: "We’re delighted to be working with The Nappy Lady to offer this voucher scheme which will cut the upfront cost of reusable nappies, to allow more people to make the switch and start saving in the long run as well as supporting our environment.”
Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/nappies for full details, including the scheme's terms and conditions and how to apply.
