Welcome to the Town of Bassendean

Modern Cloth Nappy & Sanitary Products Rebate

The Town is providing the opportunity for residents to receive a rebate on the purchase or hire of modern cloth nappies and reusable sanitary products. Despite initial costs, these items lead to long-term savings and environmental benefits.

Research shows cloth nappies can potentially last through raising multiple children. Likewise, just a single reusable sanitary pad can be used enough times to equal roughly 540 disposable pads or tampons – That’s a lot of money saved, and a lot of plastic avoided!

Despite water and detergent use, reusable products still have a much lower environmental impact than disposable options.

Terms & Conditions

The rebate values for applications received in 2024/25 are as follows:
• Reusable cloth nappies and products (wetbags, re-usable inserts) – Up to 70% of the purchase or hire cost - Rebate maximum $140.00
• Reusable sanitary products (pads, underwear, cup or similar) –  Up to half (50%) of the purchase cost - Rebate maximum $50.00

Only one rebate per household/ family is permitted, and applications must be submitted within 12 months of the purchase. Rebates are available subject to remaining annual budget.

To be eligible for this rebate you must:

1. Be a Town of Bassendean resident at the time of purchase and application submission
2. Have not previously successfully applied for this rebate
3. Provide proof of purchase (receipt, email, screen capture or similar) showing:
   1. Date of purchase (must be within past 12 months)
   2. Cost and details of items purchased
4. Provide bank account details for payment of the approved rebate
5. Purchase one of the following products:
   1. Reusable cloth nappies and products (wetbags and re-usable inserts)
   2. Reusable sanitary product (pads, underwear, cup or similar)
6. Provide proof of address at the Customer Service Centre, 35 Old Perth Rd, Bassendean (drivers licence or similar), to be sighted by a Customer Service Officer. 

How to apply

To register your interest for the rebate please complete the application form below and send together with your proof of address and purchase receipts to [email protected] or call (08) 9377 8095.

Rebate Application Form - Cloth Nappies & Sanitary Items

The Town strongly encourages participants to attend a workshop as we want to make sure you have the best opportunity for success in using your new nappies. Please visit the below page to find your nearest workshop.

Nearby Modern Cloth Nappy Workshops | Eventbrite

Helpful Resources

Australian Nappy Association

Clean Cloth Nappies

Guide to Purchasing Modern Cloth Nappies

Comparing Different Period Underwear

Compost, Worm Farm & Bokashi Subsidy

The Town provides a subsidy to its residents to encourage home composting and the improvement of local soils. The following systems can be purchased through the Town at 40% of their retail value by contacting Environment House.

To purchase one of the above systems with the subsidy please call Environment House on (08) 9271 4488

In order to be eligible for the subsidy you must be a Town of Bassendean resident. A limit of one system per household applies.

Helpful Resources

Bokashi composting

Composting

Worm farming

Sustainability Workshops

Please see the Town's What's on page for the most up to date information about upcoming workshops.  You can also visit the Town's Eventbrite page and follow it for notifications about upcoming environment and sustainability events.

Events Calendar » Town of Bassendean

For further information about any upcoming environmental sustainability workshops please email [email protected]

Switch Your Thinking (SYT) Rewards for Residents 

SYT is a Local Government initiative that aims to support the community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to global efforts to secure a safe climate. As a SYT member council, residents of the Town can access a number of benefits including free workshops and the Rewards for Residents program.

You can visit the SYT website for more information here:

https://www.switchyourthinking.com/

Rewards for Residents

Rewards for Residents supports you to make your home more sustainable. Switch Your Thinking offers member council residents discounts on products that will help you to cut waste and reduce energy and water use such as solar panels and batteries, rainwater tanks, insulation paint, compost bins, worm farms, e-bike accessories and soil amendments.

All you have to do is check the available products on the website below, call the relevant business and mention Switch Your Thinking to claim the discount.

Rewards for Residents | Switch Your Thinking

Containers for Change

Every year in WA we use 1.3 billion drink containers. Help WA recycle more and start cashing in your containers for a 10 cent refund. This is a great way to teach kids about the value of recycling, use the cash as pocket money or donate to a local charity. Eligible containers can be cashed in at a local Containers for Change refund point, see the link below to find your nearest location.

Nearest Containers for Change Locations

Container Cradles and Baskets

In September 2022 a number of public bins were installed with Containers for Change Cradles and Baskets that allow passerbys to either leave or pick up refundable drink containers that would otherwise go in the bin.

Environment House

Located next to Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary, Environment House is an important community led initiative, Shop Front and Environmental Education Centre.

Visit their website or shop to learn about how to transform your garden into a wildlife sanctuary or browse their many earth friendly products, from keep cups and reusable grocery bags to eco friendly home and personal care.

https://www.envirohouse.org.au/

Repair Café Bassendean

Since its beginnings in 2018, Repair Café Bassendean has successfully repaired over 1000 items with 83% of items received being successfully repaired. Visitors will find tools and materials to help make any repairs they need, on clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, toys, and much more. Give your items a second life and visit the skilled and friendly members of the Repair Café Bassendean.

https://repaircafebassendean.org.au/

Waterwise offers

The Water Corporation provides services and rebates for Customers in the Perth metro area to encourage the adoption of waterwise gardens.

Visit their website for more information:

Water Saving Offers – Water Corporation of WA

Sustainable Transport

The Town of Bassendean aims to connect the Town through a safe and inviting walking and cycling network and enhance the liveability of local neighbourhoods.

Whitfield Safe Active Street

Whitfield Street in Bassendean became a Safe Active Street, safely linking people along a 2.3 km stretch from Guildford Road to Sandy Beach and promoting a new shared street space. The introduction of a 30km/hr speed limit provides walkers, riders and drivers a safer, quieter space to move, encouraging people to jump on their bikes and or walk to local sites. 

Safe Active Streets Program (transport.wa.gov.au)

Your Move

Your Move is a free program run by the Department of Transport that supports individuals, schools and workplaces to start swapping a few car trips each week for walking, riding a bike or catching public transport.

Find out what's on in your local area and discover what other people are doing to get more active as part of their daily routine. Visit Your Move to get moving!

https://www.yourmove.org.au/

Going single-use plastic free

Why is this important?

Plastic polymers do not biodegrade, but rather break down into smaller and smaller pieces that cannot be seen by the unaided eye. Micro-plastics build up in the environment and accumulate in the food chain.

In many marine environments plastic is now more common than food, with many wildlife filling their stomachs with plastic and starving to death.

Eliminating the use of unnecessary plastic is everyone’s responsibility.

What can be used instead of plastic?

Through its partnership with the EMRC, the Town can provide residents free loan of a party box which includes 48 sets of kids plates, cups, cutlery and napkins. A 15L cooler drink mug, cake slicer, serving platters, 2x 4.5m cloth bunting and a ‘Happy Birthday’ ground spike also included.

To hire, contact EMRC Waste Education on (08) 9424 2271 or [email protected]. Loan boxes can be collected from the EMRC.

Plastic Free July

The Town encourages residents to participate in Plastic Free July each year to eliminate single use plastic. You can start small by eliminating your 3 most frequently used items such as, coffee cups, water bottles, cutlery, straws or plastic packaging.

Visit the Plastic Free Foundation for more information and how to participate.

WA Plan for Plastics

The WA State Government has released Western Australia’s Plan for Plastics. Single-use plastic or disposable items will be banned in a phased approach from January 2022 - December 2025.

For more detailed information or to read the WA Plan for Plastics visit their website:

Western Australia's Plan for Plastics | Western Australian Government (www.wa.gov.au)

Home | WA Plastics Ban (plasticsbanwa.com.au)

WA Plastics Guide for Businesses (plasticsbanwa.com.au)

Plants to Residents Program

The Town of Bassendean has partnered with Enviro House to deliver the 2025 Plants to Residents Program. Town of Bassendean residents and residential property owners can purchase up to 20 plants for their property for the subsidised rate of only $1 per plant. Collection will be from the Town of Bassendean Depot, 69 Scaddan St on Saturday June 7th and Sunday June 8th. Bookings essential.  

Key Dates:

23 March | 9:30 am to 11 am

Planning a Waterwise Verge Garden, tickets can be purchased here: Planning a Waterwise Verge Garden - for City of Bayswater & Town of Bassendean Residents

26 April | 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm

A tickets sale event will occur at the April Bassendean market

29 April

From April 29 at 9am, tickets will be available online and also in person at Enviro House, 125 King William St, Bayswater during open times (Tues-Fri 9am-1pm, Sat 10am-1pm).  https://www.trybooking.com/CYLVH

June 7 & 8
This year's plant collection will be held on the 7^th of June, 9am-3.30pm and 8th of June, 9am-12pm at the Town of Bassendean Depot, 69 Scaddan St. Booking required to collect your plants during this time. 

June 8, 12pm-2pm 

Excess and unclaimed plants will be available from 12pm-2pm or until sold out from the Town of Bassendean Depot, 69 Scaddan St. $1 per plant. Limit of 20 plants per residential address. Proof of residential address required. 

This initiative is proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for Town of Bassendean to be a leading waterwise city.

Trees to Residents Program

In 2025 the Town is launching a new Trees to Residents Program, where residents can purchase tickets for trees (200mm pot size) at a subsidised rate of $5 per tree, for planting within their property.

A limit of 5 trees per property applies, subject to availability. Please seek agreement from the property owner before purchasing tickets.

The Trees to Residents Program aims to assist in increasing our tree canopy cover to 30% by 2040, contributing to urban cooling, biodiversity and other benefits.   

A variety of species are available:

Tickets go on sale from 9am Tuesday 29 April, on Try Booking. If you are unable to book tickets online please call Sustainability and Environment on 9377 8095 to discuss alternatives. 

The tree collection will be held the same weekend as the Plants to Residents collection days (7 & 8 June), at the Town of Bassendean Depot, 69 Scaddan St, Bassendean.

Verge Rebate Program

The Town of Bassendean is offering a limited number of rebates for residents who transform their verges from grass/hardstand to waterwise verges. Expressions of Interest for the rebate program will open on 17 April 2025. Rebates of up to $500 will be available to eligible residents.

Program Requirements and Eligibility Criteria

• The verge makeover must comply with the Town’s Verge Treatment Policy and Verge Treatment Guidelines Verges » Town of Bassendean
• The applicant must be a Town of Bassendean property owner or strata company. Currently no applications will be accepted from tenants.
• If your verge area is greater than 20 m², the minimum verge area to be transformed is 20 m². If your verge area is less than 20 m², your transformation must cover the entire verge, excluding a place for bins. Residents can use the Town’s online mapping tool to measure their verge area.
• Corner blocks may apply, the area to be transformed on at least one of the verges must be over 20m².
• Battle-axe developments and strata complex or grouped dwellings where the verge is shared can apply for the rebate, but the applicant must have written support from the property owners sharing the verge, stating that they support the transformation. This letter of support must be submitted to the Town by the property owners who share the verge or the strata company, not the applicant.
• The current verge must not be an existing native/waterwise garden.
• The verge either needs to have a street tree(s) or leave space(s) for a street tree(s) to be installed by the Town, consistent with the Street and Reserve Tree Council Policy intent for a continuous street tree canopy. The requirement for a street tree(s) will be discussed with the resident prior to acceptance of their application.
• Successful applicants must remove grass or hard surfaces prior to planting, complete all works and submitted the rebate information before 1 September 2025. NOTE: Any applicants accepted into the program who do not complete the transformation by 1 September 2025 will not be able to participate in the program again for the following two years.
• Successful applicants must include 5-10cm of coarse mulch (woodchip or tree prunings) and waterwise plants (local native plants preferred). The Water Corporation's Waterwise Plant Directory (Waterwise Plants Perth & WA | Water Saving & Drought Tolerant Plants (watercorporation.com.au)) and the Town’s Verge Treatments Guidelines (Verges » Town of Bassendean) provide information on some suitable plants.
• The rebate can be applied to the hire of contract services and purchase of materials for the verge transformation (e.g. plants, mulch, fertiliser). The rebate cannot be applied to the purchase of equipment (e.g. shovels) used to undertake the transformation.
• The number of rebates is limited, residents will be notified via email if their application is successful, and the steps required to complete the rebate process.

The application form for residents to be considered for the 2025 Verge Rebate Program is available here: Waterwise Verge Rebate Program Expression of Interest » Town of Bassendean

Participation in the Verge Rebate Program does not prevent residents from participating in other Town programs, such as the 2025 Plants to Residents Program (details above).

This initiative is proudly co-funded by Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme and forms part of our ambition for Town of Bassendean to be a leading waterwise city.

Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) Compost

Transforming Waste into a Community Resource

Soil Improver – All Purpose Dig-It-In Compost is now available! This high-quality compost is created from food and garden organics collected in the Town of Bassendean’s lime-green-lidded FOGO bins.

Certified to Australian Standards, FOGO Compost is ideal for a variety of garden applications and will be available throughout the year.

When and Where to Access FOGO Compost

• January - February 2025: Designated mulch collection area for residents, behind the Town’s Depot at 69 Scaddan Street, Bassendean. Open 7 am to 3 pm weekdays. Entry is via the corner of Scaddan Street and Troy Street. Look for the signage directing you to the correct collection area (now out of stock for the rest of the financial year)
• Waste Education stalls at Bassendean Markets on 22 February, 29 March and 25 May 2025

Surplus Mulch

Availability

The Town produces mulch from pruned street and reserve trees and uses it to maintain public spaces such as parks and gardens. When surplus mulch is available, it will be offered to residents and local community groups.

Please note that the Town of Bassendean is located within the Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer Quarantine Area, so mulch from the Town must only be used in the Town of Bassendean to prevent the spread of this pest. Please check restrictions before transporting any wood or plant material outside the Quarantine Area. For more information visit: Polyphagous shot-hole borer | Agriculture and Food.

Conditions for Collection

To ensure fair access and an efficient collection process, please note the following:

• This service is available exclusively to Town of Bassendean residents and local community groups.
• Each individual or group may collect up to one 6x4 trailer load per visit.
• Mulch is self-service only. Residents must bring their own trailer and tools to load mulch. Delivery is not available.
• Mulch is offered on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

Confirmation of Availability

Availability depends on surplus levels. Residents and community groups are encouraged to call the Town of Bassendean Depot on 9377 9000 prior to visiting to confirm mulch availability.

Collection Location

Mulch can be collected from the designated ‘Resident Mulch’ area located behind the Town’s Depot at: 69 Scaddan Street, Bassendean.

Access is via the corner of Scaddan Street and Troy Street. Follow the signage to the designated collection area. Open 7 am to 3 pm weekdays. 

Updates for a Better, Fairer System

The Town has refined the mulch collection process to address community concerns about availability and instances of over collection. The updated process aims to ensure:

• Fair distribution among residents and community groups.
• A clear, transparent system to manage availability.
• Reduced waste, and sustainable and effective use of resources.

The new process ensures the Town retains enough mulch to maintain public spaces while managing surplus more effectively.

Mulch Benefits

Using mulch supports sustainability by repurposing tree pruning’s, reducing waste. Mulch improves gardens by retaining soil moisture, suppressing weed growth, and enriching soil quality.

More Information

For more information about mulch availability and collection, contact the Town of Bassendean Depot on 9377 9000.