How to get paid for going green

Want to do your bit for the environment? You may be able to get a cash rebate on a range of green products. We look at what’s on offer.

Kermit the Frog famously said, “It’s not easy being green.” I know he wasn’t talking about making environmentally friendly choices but I think the quote still applies. After all, in some cases being green can mean you have to part with your cash.

The good news is that many state and territory governments and local councils are offering payments to encourage Aussies to make green choices. The rebates might not cover all your expenses but they can certainly help.

Check out our guide to some of the products you may be able to claim a rebate for, how much you could get paid and where to go for more information.

Energy and water-saving products

Housing insulation, rainwater tanks, rooftop solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, pool pumps and switching from a dark to a light roof are some of the things you may be able to claim a rebate for depending on where you live.

Residents living in the City of Onkaparinga, South Australia’s largest metropolitan council, have a number of rebates available to them. For example, they can apply for a rebate of 50% of the cost of changing their roof colour from dark to light, up to a maximum of $150. They may also be entitled to a rebate of up to $200 if they buy an electric vehicle charging station.

There are also several rebates up for grabs for Sydneysiders who live in the Randwick Council area. Some examples include a rebate of up to $250 on an induction cooktop and a rebate of up to $500 for installing a rainwater tank.

If you want to find out what rebates might be available to you, the government’s Energy website is a great place to start. Fill in the search fields and it will provide you with a list of possible payments. You can also get in touch with your local council to ask what they are offering.

Compost bins and worm farms

Composting your food scraps has a range of environmental benefits including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving soil health. Many councils are subsidising the cost of compost bins, bokashi and worm farms.

Brisbane City council, for example, is offering a rebate of up to $100 on eligible composting equipment and up to $200 for the purchase of a food waste dehydrator system or in-sink food disposal system.

Sydney Inner West council residents could get up to 50% off and free delivery of a compost bin or worm farm. Those living in Perth’s City of Cockburn council area may be eligible for a $50 rebate on a compost bin or a $95 rebate on a worm farm.

If you’re interested in composting and want to know what might be up for grabs where you live, your local council should be your first port of call.

The Compost Revolution site is also worth a look. Enter your address and if your council has partnered up with them you can purchase your compost bin or worm farm directly from the site for the discounted price.

Cloth nappies and reusable sanitary products

Using cloth nappies and reusable sanitary products can be a great way to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill. That’s why many local councils are offering residents incentives to opt for reusable products rather than single-use items. The rebates vary between councils.

Ballarat residents, for example, can apply for a rebate of 50% of the purchase price, up to $100, for reusable cloth nappy products and 50% of the purchase price, up to $100, for reusable period and sanitary products.

In Sydney, Penrith council is offering residents a rebate of 50% of the purchase price of reusable cloth nappies (up to $100) and sanitary products (up to $100).

You can check with your local council to find out if they are offering any rebates. Another handy resource is Rebately. You enter your address and it will let you know what rebates may be available from your local council. If your council is offering a rebate, you can buy the product and upload your receipt to the Rebately website to make a claim.

Cover image source: Halfpoint/Shutterstock.com

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