Wokingham

A mum who decided to explore the benefits of real nappies is the first to receive a cash bonus from Wokingham District Council as it encourages people to consider the alternative to disposable nappies.

Natalie Burton of New Road, Ruscombe is the first claimant under the council’s real nappy incentive scheme which allows parents living in the district to claim up to £30 from the council after they have spent more than this amount on real nappy products*. And Natalie is getting a double bonus as two-month-old twins Rosie and Tom enabled her to claim £60 back on real nappy products.

Wokingham District Council launched the scheme during Real Nappy Week in April at a special ‘Nappucino’ event when everyone from prospective parents to grandparents is invited to come along for a coffee and a chat to find out more about the benefits of real nappies.

Wokingham Waste and recycling manager Pete Baveystock said: “The council spends thousands of pounds each year disposing of waste in rapidly decreasing landfill space. The government sets very tight controls and, if we exceed these, the council has to pay money in fines.

“Therefore we are always looking at every opportunity to decrease the amount of waste we send to landfill and increase the amount that we recycle and compost. Real nappies are a great alternative to disposables, meaning less waste to landfill and often a saving to a parent’s pocket as well! The cash back incentive aims to help to introduce more families to real, washable nappies and mean less waste in landfill.”

Around four per cent of household waste is made up of disposable nappies. That equates to approximately 8,000 tonnes a year in the Wokingham district going straight into limited landfill space.

Executive member for environment services Cllr Simon Weeks, who presented Natalie with her cheque on Wednesday June 21, said: “I’m delighted to be presenting this cheque to Natalie and her family as our first successful claimants. When you have children, the financial outIay on new necessities can be somewhat daunting, and I hope that this cashback goes someway to helping.

“I would encourage everyone to find out more about cloth nappies as a very real alternative to disposables.”

Natalie said: “Our decision to use real nappies, as opposed to disposable, was an easy one to make as the choice is endless and they are so easy to use. We're able to use the money we've saved to benefit the twins, plus we aren't contributing to the landfill statistics as much as we would have done had we us disposables.”

The cash back scheme covers the first 80 claims or until March 31, 2007, whichever comes first.

For more information about the Wokingham scheme call waste and recycling manager Peter Baveystock on (0118) 974 6338.

*In order to claim the £30 cash back, claimants must provide proof of residency in the Wokingham district, a copy of the birth certificate of the child for whom they are claiming, an application form and receipt of real nappy products to a value greater than £30 for that child. The scheme covers all babies born on or after April 24, 2006.

Wokingham District Council