Dublin City Council has today officially launched the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme at the Rotunda Hospital. Delivered in partnership with environmental charity Voice Ireland, the initiative is designed to help parents across the city transition from disposable nappies to reusable alternatives.

The scheme aims to decrease household waste and encourage environmentally friendly parenting choices. Disposable nappies make up a significant portion of Ireland's waste stream, and this new project provides families with a practical option to lower their environmental footprint.

Led by Voice Ireland, the scheme will offer a limited number of families based in Dublin a voucher to buy a comprehensive cloth nappy starter kit. The program has been structured to assist families who might not have previously considered or been able to afford reusable options. Each chosen family will receive a voucher that can be used at approved partner retailers to claim a kit, which includes everything required to use cloth nappies from birth until toilet training. The Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Ray McAdam said: "My theme as Lord Mayor has been Celebrating Dublin, and that means celebrating practical ideas that help Dublin families and protect the city we all share. This Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme is a simple but important example of climate action in everyday life. It supports parents, reduces waste, and helps more families make sustainable choices from the earliest days of their child's life. By working with Voice Ireland and the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin City Council is helping to make greener choices more accessible, more affordable, and more realistic for families across our city."

Speaking at the launch event, Barry Woods, Head of Waste Management Services at Dublin City Council, said: "This scheme is about making sustainable choices more accessible for families. By supporting parents in switching to reusable nappies, we are helping to reduce waste and contribute to a more circular economy in Dublin."

Abi O'Callaghan-Platt from Voice Ireland added: "We have found that even families who had never considered using cloth nappies before love the nappies in the starter bundle and plan to use them until potty training!"

The new initiative fits into Dublin City Council's wider strategy for climate action and waste reduction, assisting local residents in adopting sustainable habits in their daily routines.