Modern Cloth Nappy & Sanitary Products Rebate
The Town is providing the opportunity for residents to receive a rebate on the purchase or hire of modern cloth nappies and reusable sanitary products. Despite initial costs, these items lead to long-term savings and environmental benefits.
Research shows cloth nappies can potentially last through raising multiple children. Likewise, just a single reusable sanitary pad can be used enough times to equal roughly 540 disposable pads or tampons – That’s a lot of money saved, and a lot of plastic avoided!
Despite water and detergent use, reusable products still have a much lower environmental impact than disposable options.
Terms & Conditions
The rebate values for applications received in 2024/25 are as follows:
• Reusable cloth nappies and products (wetbags, re-usable inserts) – Up to 70% of the purchase or hire cost - Rebate maximum $140.00
• Reusable sanitary products (pads, underwear, cup or similar) – Up to half (50%) of the purchase cost - Rebate maximum $50.00
Only one rebate per household/ family is permitted, and applications must be submitted within 12 months of the purchase. Rebates are available subject to remaining annual budget.
To be eligible for this rebate you must:
- Be a Town of Bassendean resident at the time of purchase and application submission
- Have not previously successfully applied for this rebate
- Provide proof of purchase (receipt, email, screen capture or similar) showing:
- Date of purchase (must be within past 12 months)
- Cost and details of items purchased
- Provide bank account details for payment of the approved rebate
- Purchase one of the following products:
- Reusable cloth nappies and products (wetbags and re-usable inserts)
- Reusable sanitary product (pads, underwear, cup or similar)
- Provide proof of address at the Customer Service Centre, 35 Old Perth Rd, Bassendean (drivers licence or similar), to be sighted by a Customer Service Officer.
How to apply
To register your interest for the rebate please complete the application form below and send together with your proof of address and purchase receipts to [email protected] or call (08) 9377 8095.
Rebate Application Form - Cloth Nappies & Sanitary Items
The Town strongly encourages participants to attend a workshop as we want to make sure you have the best opportunity for success in using your new nappies. Please visit the below page to find your nearest workshop.
Nearby Modern Cloth Nappy Workshops | Eventbrite
Helpful Resources
Australian Nappy Association
Clean Cloth Nappies
Guide to Purchasing Modern Cloth Nappies
Comparing Different Period Underwear
Compost, Worm Farm & Bokashi Subsidy
The Town provides a subsidy to its residents to encourage home composting and the improvement of local soils. The following systems can be purchased through the Town at 40% of their retail value by contacting Environment House.
To purchase one of the above systems with the subsidy please call Environment House on (08) 9271 4488
In order to be eligible for the subsidy you must be a Town of Bassendean resident. A limit of one system per household applies.
Helpful Resources
Bokashi composting
Composting
Worm farming
Sustainability Workshops
Please see the Town's What's on page for the most up to date information about upcoming workshops. You can also visit the Town's Eventbrite page and follow it for notifications about upcoming environment and sustainability events.
Events Calendar » Town of Bassendean
For further information about any upcoming environmental sustainability workshops please email [email protected]
Switch Your Thinking (SYT)
SYT is a Local Government initiative that aims to support the community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to global efforts to secure a safe climate. As a SYT member council, residents of the Town can access a number of benefits including free workshops and the Rewards for Residents program.
You can visit the SYT website for more information here:
https://www.switchyourthinking.com/
Rewards for Residents
Rewards for Residents supports you to make your home more sustainable. Switch Your Thinking offers member council residents discounts on products that will help you to cut waste and reduce energy and water use such as solar panels and batteries, rainwater tanks, insulation paint, compost bins, worm farms, e-bike accessories and soil amendments.
All you have to do is check the available products on the website below, call the relevant business and mention Switch Your Thinking to claim the discount.
Rewards for Residents | Switch Your Thinking
Energy Smart SMS
Switch Your Thinking delivers a monthly SMS tip providing simple ways residents can reduce their use of electricity. Registration for the tips is free and simple and participants can opt out at any time. Results from the innovative Switched on Homes trial revealed energy efficiency tips received by SMS can help residents reduce their electricity use by 6 percent.
Energy Efficiency SMS | Switch Your Thinking
Containers for Change
Every year in WA we use 1.3 billion drink containers. Help WA recycle more and start cashing in your containers for a 10 cent refund. This is a great way to teach kids about the value of recycling, use the cash as pocket money or donate to a local charity. Eligible containers can be cashed in at a local Containers for Change refund point, see the link below to find your nearest location.
Nearest Containers for Change Locations
Container Cradles and Baskets
In September 2022 a number of public bins were installed with Containers for Change Cradles and Baskets that allow passerbys to either leave or pick up refundable drink containers that would otherwise go in the bin.
Environment House
Located next to Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, Environment House is an important community led initiative, Shop Front and Environmental Education Centre.
Visit their website or shop to learn about how to transform your garden into a wildlife sanctuary or browse their many earth friendly products, from keep cups and reusable grocery bags to eco friendly home and personal care.
https://www.envirohouse.org.au/
Earth Carers
Delivered by the EMRC, the Earth Carers course teaches participants practical ways of reducing waste at home and in the community. Learn about the nitty gritty of your waste, where it goes and how to reduce your planet footprint. The course is free for Town of Bassendean residents to attend.
To register your interest, visit the website below:
Earth Carers » Perth's Eastern Region (emrcsustainability.com.au)
Repair Café Bassendean
Since its beginnings in 2018, Repair Café Bassendean has successfully repaired over 1000 items with 83% of items received being successfully repaired. Visitors will find tools and materials to help make any repairs they need, on clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, toys, and much more. Give your items a second life and visit the skilled and friendly members of the Repair Café Bassendean.
https://repaircafebassendean.org.au/
Waterwise offers
The Water Corporation provides services and rebates for Customers in the Perth metro area to encourage the adoption of waterwise gardens.
Visit their website for more information:
Water Saving Offers – Water Corporation of WA
Sustainable Transport
The Town of Bassendean aims to connect the Town through a safe and inviting walking and cycling network and enhance the liveability of local neighbourhoods.
Whitfield Safe Active Street
Whitfield Street in Bassendean became a Safe Active Street, safely linking people along a 2.3 km stretch from Guildford Road to Sandy Beach and promoting a new shared street space. The introduction of a 30km/hr speed limit provides walkers, riders and drivers a safer, quieter space to move, encouraging people to jump on their bikes and or walk to local sites.
Safe Active Streets Program (transport.wa.gov.au)
Your Move
Your Move is a free program run by the Department of Transport that supports individuals, schools and workplaces to start swapping a few car trips each week for walking, riding a bike or catching public transport.
Find out what's on in your local area and discover what other people are doing to get more active as part of their daily routine. Visit Your Move to get moving!
Map Your Move - Bassendean Area Map
https://www.yourmove.org.au/
Going single-use plastic free
Why is this important?
Plastic polymers do not biodegrade, but rather break down into smaller and smaller pieces that cannot be seen by the unaided eye. Micro-plastics build up in the environment and accumulate in the food chain.
In many marine environments plastic is now more common than food, with many wildlife filling their stomachs with plastic and starving to death.
Eliminating the use of unnecessary plastic is everyone’s responsibility.
What can be used instead of plastic?
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Alternatives to single-use plastics
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If you need this
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Try this first...
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...and then try this
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Cups
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Reusable mugs and cups provided and a wash station set up on site.
Patrons encouraged to bring their own mug or coffee cup
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Certified Compostable cups (Industrial-AS4736 or Home-AS5810) made from paper
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Plates and bowls
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Patrons BYO plate/bowl
Re-usable crockery or re-usable plastic wares provided by vendors and washed on site.
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Compostable plates and bowls made from uncoated paper, wood, wheat or bamboo
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Cutlery
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Reusable cutlery provided and wash stations set up on site.
Patrons encouraged to bring their own reusable cutlery
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Compostable uncoated paper, wood, wheat or bamboo cutlery
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Water bottles
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Drinking water facilities are made available on site
Patrons can bring their own bottle & refill on site
Reusable bottles available for purchase at the event
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Glass
Paperboard cartons Aluminium or steel cans
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Straws
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Patrons encouraged to bring their own straw
Stainless steel straws to be washed and re-used.
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Paper straws
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Bags
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Patrons encouraged to bring their own reusable bag
Vendors sell re-usable bags
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Paper bags
Compostable bags
Boxes
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Condiments
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Provide a condiment station where people can apply sauces directly to their meal.
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Provide condiments in compostable packaging such as paper/bamboo tray
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Cling wrap
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Airtight containers
Silicone food wraps
Glass jars for food storage
Sandwich pockets
Bees wax wraps
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Compostable plant based soft plastic packaging and cling film.
Baking paper
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Where can I find out more?
If you are a café that would ordinarily accept reusable coffee cups and you would like to continue accepting them, please see the Boomerang Alliance A cafe owner's guide to using reusable foodware during Covid-19.
Contact the Town's Recycling & Waste Services Team on 9377 8000 or view the policy and guidance document below:
Guide for Eliminating Single Use Plastics
Helping you transition
Through its partnership with the EMRC, the Town can provide residents free loan of a party box which includes 48 sets of kids plates, cups, cutlery and napkins. A 15L cooler drink mug, cake slicer, serving platters, 2x 4.5m cloth bunting and a ‘Happy Birthday’ ground spike also included.
To hire, contact EMRC Waste Education on (08) 9424 2271 or [email protected]. Loan boxes can be collected from the EMRC.
Plastic Free July
The Town encourages residents to participate in Plastic Free July each year to eliminate single use plastic. You can start small by eliminating your 3 most frequently used items such as, coffee cups, water bottles, cutlery, straws or plastic packaging.
Visit the Plastic Free Foundation for more information and how to participate.
WA Plan for Plastics
The WA State Government has released Western Australia’s Plan for Plastics. Single-use plastic or disposable items will be banned in a phased approach from January 2022 - December 2025.
Banned from 1 July 2022:
- all plastic shopping bags with handles
- disposable plastic utensils - straws, stirrers and cutlery
- disposable plastic foodware without lids - plates, bowls and food containers
- expanded polystyrene food containers and trays
- balloon releases are also banned from 1 July 2022; however, balloons are not banned.
Banned from 1 October 2022:
- disposable plastic cups for cold drinks
From 1 September 2023:
- loose-fill expanded plastic packaging
- EPS cups and EPS trays for raw meat and seafood
- degradable plastics
- disposable cotton buds with plastic stems
- microbeads in rinse-off personal care, cosmetic and cleaning products
From 1 March 2024:
- disposable plastic coffee cups
- disposable plastic cup lids (for hot or cold drinks)
- disposable plastic trays for takeaway or eat-in food
From 1 September 2024:
- disposable plastic produce bags used for fresh unpackaged fruit and vegetables
- disposable plastic lids for bowls, trays and containers used for takeaway or eat-in food
- disposable plastic lidded bowls, trays and containers used for takeaway or eat-in food
From 1 July 2025:
- moulded or cut expanded plastic packaging
For more detailed information or to read the WA Plan for Plastics visit their website:
Western Australia's Plan for Plastics | Western Australian Government (www.wa.gov.au)
Home | WA Plastics Ban (plasticsbanwa.com.au)
WA Plastics Guide for Businesses (plasticsbanwa.com.au)
Plants to Residents Program
The Town of Bassendean runs an annual Plants to Residents program, where residents can purchase native, water wise plants at a subsidised rate. The 2024 program has finished; the 2025 program will be advertised in April 2025.
This initiative is proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for Town of Bassendean to be a leading waterwise city.
Verge Rebate Program
The Town of Bassendean runs an annual Verge Rebate program, where residents can receive a rebate for transforming their verge into a waterwise garden. The 2024 program has finished; the 2025 program will be advertised in April 2025.
This initiative is proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for Town of Bassendean to be a leading waterwise city.