Page 2515 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 31 July 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
There is no doubt that the ACT is leading the way in this space. But there is always room to do a little more. This is where nappies and sanitary and incontinence products come in. As I have discussed, these disposable products are huge contributors to landfill. But there are several initiatives across Australia right now aimed at increasing the use of sustainable alternatives. For instance, Casey City Council in Melbourne has offered rebates for the purchase of cloth nappies and sanitary pads. Residents are refunded half of what they spent on cloth nappies or re-usable sanitary products if they can provide proof of purchase, with rebates capped at a set amount.
There are various ways that a rebate scheme could operate here. It could be means tested, a short trial or simply a short promotion. It may not even be appropriate for our jurisdiction. But even though you quickly recoup the cost of cloth nappies or sustainable menstrual or incontinence products through re-use, and they end up much cheaper than disposable products over time, it is that initial outlay that I think, and that I hear, is off-putting for some people.
While I do not have children, for a baby shower recently I was very happy to gift a friend cloth nappies, but even I was surprised to find that the cost was upwards of $30 each, and obviously you do not just buy one. Cloth sanitary pads, which I own and use myself, also cost around $30 each. Again one is, frankly, not enough. Menstrual cups can cost around $50. These are costs that I think could be genuine barriers for consumers.
It is worth comparing that, for nappies, while just one sustainable cloth nappy costs $30, for $30 you can buy 90 disposable nappies. For the average consumer, that initial outlay might not seem to be worth it, even though the overall benefit is genuinely very considerable. In my view it is worth at least investigating whether the cost is a barrier to Canberrans, or at least to some Canberrans, and how we might be able to alleviate that.
There are other ways worth thinking about to encourage consumers to consider using more sustainable products. It is not just about removing a financial barrier to considering environmentally-friendly alternatives; it is about giving people a chance to learn more about how these products work and the benefits of using them.
We know that the leap from disposable to sustainable products can be a big one. Just ask anyone who has had to describe exactly how a menstrual cup works. One of those barriers could be that people are simply a bit anxious about using these products for the first time, and fair enough. Leakage, staining and disposing of waste are real questions, but ones, when answered, that can help to alleviate that anxiety and further encourage the consideration of use.
As I have raised, Canberra Environment Centre is already leading the charge with its on-site cloth nappy display. The introductory workshops are another great way to showcase both sustainable nappies and sustainable sanitary and incontinence products. There are workshops to engage in interactive forums to learn more, physically see exactly what is being discussed and ask questions in a safe environment. Let us not
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video