Supporting Sustainable Choices Scheme: Round 4

REBATE AVAILABLE NOW!

Terms and Conditions

Reusable items not only prevent pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and divert large amounts of waste from landfill, they save individuals and families a lot of money.

Following the success of Penrith City Council’s 2020 - 2021 Supporting Sustainable Choices Scheme, where around 400 households received rebates for their purchase of environmentally conscious, sustainable nappies and sanitary items, Council reopened the scheme to all households for sustainable purchases made from 1 January 2023 onwards. The program was extended to include rechargeable household batteries to tackle more problematic waste items than ever before.

Council wants to continue helping Penrith residents live more sustainably. From November 2024, it will introduce rebates for a select range of food storage items, reusable drink bottles and keep-cups, and carbonated beverage makers to reduce food and packaging waste!

This project is a NSW Environment Protection Authority initiative funded from the waste levy, in partnership with Penrith City Council.

Click here to apply, or continue reading to learn more about the rebates available under the 2023 Supporting Sustainable Choices Scheme.

Reusable nappy and sanitary item rebate 2024

Did you know that before a child is properly toilet trained, it is estimated that 5,000 to 6,000 nappies will be used and disposed of during that timeframe? If we average the cost of a single disposable nappy at 50c, a family spends approximately $3,000 on nappies alone.

When disposable nappies end up in landfill, it takes up to 300 years for them to break down.

It’s estimated an average of 150kg of sanitary items are sent to landfill during the lifetime of one person who uses such products. Using reusable nappies and sanitary items only requires a thorough wash with detergent and they’re ready to be used again.

The Continence Foundation of Australia also identifies that 1 in 4 people suffer from incontinence. There are a wide variety of products available to assist in managing incontinence eligible within this rebate program.

If you are considering switching to sustainable cloth nappies or reusable sanitary items but are unsure where to start, check out the list of helpful resources at the bottom of this webpage.

Penrith City Council will provide a 50% rebate (up to $100 per household) for reusable nappies and sanitary products.

Rebates exclude shipping fees, and all claims must be made within 3 months of the item's purchase date. Any claims for items previously approved for a financial rebate in past rounds will be denied.

Households may apply for a rebate for each of the following categories:

1. Reusable cloth nappies and accessories (50% of the purchase price, up to $100 per household)

• Reusable cloth and swim nappies
• Reusable nappy liners
• Reusable wipes
• Pilchers
• Wet bags
• Reusable nursing pads

2. Reusable sanitary products (50% of the purchase price, up to $100 per household)

• Reusable sanitary pads
• Menstrual cups
• Leakproof underwear and swimwear
• Adult washable bed pads
• Wet bags

Rechargeable battery items rebate 2024

Batteries are a large problem in the waste stream. They can't be recycled in household recycling bins and are hazardous if not disposed of correctly. Using rechargeable household batteries can save you money, as they can be reused over and over, and reduces the amount of single-use battery waste produced from households.

Penrith City Council will provide a 50% rebate (up to $50 per household) for rechargeable household batteries and chargers.

Rebates exclude shipping fees, and all claims must be made within 3 months of the item's purchase date. Any claims for items previously approved for a financial rebate in past rounds will be denied.

Eligible items include:

• Rechargeable household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D)
• Charging systems for the batteries listed above.

The total rebate amount for these items is up to $50 (50% of the purchase price) per household.

Reusable food storage containers, drink bottles, keep-cups, and carbonated beverage makers mid November 2024.

When food scraps end up in landfills, they release methane gas, which can be more damaging to the environment than Carbon dioxide. Storing food items correctly, in reusable glass or stainless-steel air-tight containers, can prevent it from spoiling and increase its shelf life. Remember if you do have any food scraps, they should be placed in your green-lidded Food Organics Gardon Organics (FOGO) bin so they can be commercially composted.

Check out Council’s ‘Love Food, Hate Waste’ page for more helpful tips to reduce food waste at home.

Additionally, Australia's battle with single-use plastics and coffee cups continues. Although numerous single-use plastic bottles are recyclable through Container Deposit Schemes, avoiding these items by opting for more sustainable and reusable alternatives is better for the environment and can save you money.

And last but (definitely) not least, did you know that Australians still use about 1.8 billion takeaway coffee cups each year? Even though industry experts and researchers are working to develop innovative solutions to repurpose this problem waste item – read about Penrith’s ‘Coffee cups in Jamison Road’ project here – we can eliminate the need for single-use options by using travel ‘keep-cups’ instead.

Penrith City Council will provide a 50% rebate (up to $50 per household) for a select* range of food storage items, reusable drink bottles, keep cups, and carbonated beverage machines. Rebates exclude shipping fees, and all claims must be made within 3 months of the item's purchase date.

Eligible items include;

• Glass and food-grade stainless steel storage containers
• Stainless steel bento lunch boxes
• Stainless steel reusable drink bottles
• Stainless steel, ceramic, and glass reusable ‘keep-cups’
• Carbonated beverage makers (SodaStream, SodaKING, Phillips GoZero, Aarke Carbonator)

*Other items may be considered at Council’s discretion. Plastic substitutes for the items listed above will not be eligible for a rebate. 

What is the rebate?

Rebates under this scheme will cover 50% of the purchase price for each category per household. Households may claim a maximum of one rebate per category with proof of purchase and residence required.

There is a limited budget for this program. No further rebates will be approved once the budget limit has been reached.

For your convenience, multiple receipts can be uploaded per application.

How do I apply for a rebate?

Please read the terms and conditions to ensure your purchase is eligible for the rebate.

Successful applications will receive their rebate within 5 –10 business days of approval, as per the program’s terms and conditions.

Click here to complete your application. Please remember to upload your purchase receipts and proof of residence when prompted.

Other Resources 

While the reusable nappy and sanitary rebate now re-opened, it is a great time to consider transitioning from disposable products to reusable alternatives. Check out our list of resources to learn more about the benefits of using cloth nappies and reusable sanitary products.

Clean Cloth Nappies — If you want to get started on your cloth nappy journey, this website has great resources and tips for you.

Sustainability Victoria – A resource that includes some facts about the impact of disposables and suggestions for transitioning to cloth.

Nappy Lane — Find out all you need to know about cloth nappies.

Australian Nappy Association — Familiarise yourself with the benefits of transitioning from disposable to reusable.

How to buy the best disposable and cloth nappies — A great guide comparing disposable and reusable nappies and with tips on how to best transition.

Period underwear review — A great guide on period underpants.

Interested in using cloth nappies and don’t know where to start? Watch cloth nappy expert Alice Henchion answer some frequently asked questions about purchasing and using cloth nappies.