Cloth naps make a comeback

11th July 2007

By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON

South Taranaki District Council aims to save both the environment and parents' money by introducing a free cloth nappy scheme.

Parents of babies born on or after June 1, 2007, will receive vouchers for a nappy starter pack worth $135. The packs contain cloth nappies and over-nappies with Velcro fasteners that do away with the need for safety pins.

Council spokesperson Carol Webb said the council had decided to set aside $25,000 for the scheme after Hawera woman Cynthia Cunningham made a submission to the Annual Plan asking the council to introduce a cloth nappy scheme.

Mrs Cunningham, a mother, grandmother, and former Plunket nurse, said she was delighted by the council's response to her submission.

"This kind of scheme has been operating very successfully in Christchurch, and I'm sure we can make it work in South Taranaki.

"Disposable nappies are expensive for families and bad for the environment.

"They cost families more than $600 a year and it is estimated that they will take 200 years to break down in the landfill."

The scheme comes into effect on July 23.

Parents can pick up vouchers from any branch of LibraryPlus or the main council office in Hawera.

The vouchers can be exchanged for cloth nappies and over-nappies at South Taranaki stores that stock cloth nappies. Ms Webb said the scheme would run for a year, and the council would review it in 2008.