Families could save up to £1,000 by using reuseable nappies and taking advantage of a new cashback scheme launched by Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The council, alongside Zero Waste North West, recently launched their reusable nappy incentive scheme at Gwyn's Cafe Brooke Park.
Through the scheme, families can claim back £30 when they spend £50 or more on cloth nappies.
It is estimated that this could help families save up to £1,000 from birth to potty if they opt for reusable rather than disposable nappies. It is also better for our environment saving thousands of tonnes of nappies from landfill each year.
Caroline McGuinness-Brooks, nappy library co-ordinator from Zero Waste North West, said: "The lottery-funded project has turned out to be a real success so far, with reusable nappies making a comeback as parents consider the environmental impact of disposables.
"With children using an average of five nappies per day, it's estimated that the local council are sending almost 11 million nappies per year to landfill. That is a lot of landfill tax that could be put back into our communities if we committed to being less wasteful. "
Families are offered the chance to hire nappy kits before committing to buying their own.
Caroline said: "We are asking families to give cloth a go and encourages them to consider using one cloth nappy a day which could really help reduce nappies to landfill or incineration."
People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin attended the launch. He said: "Being a parent, I know first hand the amount of waste produced by disposable nappies and the costs involved. This project will support parents to make the switch to reusables providing the resources but also the peer support."
The scheme helps to tackle two major issues facing families today, financial hardships and the need to become more eco-friendly.
Cllr Harkin said: "Single parents and larger families are among the hardest hit by wage cuts and welfare reforms. It is crucial we find ways to reduce financial pressures for people with children and reusables can play a role.
"Additionally, we are in a waste crisis. We need to support communities to transition towards zero waste. This scheme is part of rethinking waste as a finite resource on our planet."
For more information parents and carers can reach out to Caroline on the Facebook page Zero Waste Nappy Library or email caroline@zerowastenw.org.
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