Please note: this study has now concluded with a full report and executive summary available to download below.

We have completed a feasibility study for local government reusable sanitary and incontinence programs together with 6 other local councils.

In Australia, approximately 660 million disposable nappies/diapers, and sanitary and incontinence products go to landfill each year. These products account for between 5 and 15 percent of all household waste sent to landfill.

In this study, we aimed to:

• better understand how we can help reduce the volume of disposable sanitary and incontinence products sent to landfill
• find ways to encourage cost-effective and environmentally friendly sanitary and incontinence product choices.

How did we engage?

The community engagement included surveys, workshops and telephone interviews of current and past product users of reusable products or potential users and also service providers.

The surveys received a total of 1,363 respondents, 15 respondents attended workshops and 7 people undertook the telephone survey.

What did we learn?

More than two thirds of the survey respondents currently used reusable products, mainly period and leak-proof underwear. There was notably few respondents from the City of Maribyrnong, CALD community members and service providers.

The key reasons for using them were:

• Perception the products were environmentally friendly
• Social responsibility to address climate change
• Cost effective in the long term
• Products worked well for them
• More comfortable

Disadvantages highlighted were that the products were ineffective, unhygienic and uncomfortable.

Other barriers identified were:

• Initial high cost of purchase
• Lack of information about reusable products
• Challenges for changing, washing and storage when in public

Recommendations from the study

There was positive support from respondents to Council involvement to help facilitate the increased use of reusable products over of single use products.

Councils were encouraged to combine efforts to provide more information about the range of products available and their benefits, and advocate for the reduction of single use products going to landfill.

It was recommended to target young people starting menstruation and people experiencing mild or intermittent incontinence.

Finding ways to better reach members of our CALD community, people living with disability and gender diverse people with information about these options was also recommended.

This project was supported by the Recycling Victoria Councils Fund, delivered by Sustainability Victoria, on behalf of the Victorian Government.