Subsidy for
cloth diapers
Vers une hygiène zéro déchet au Québec is a project financially supported by RECYC-QUÉBEC as part of a call for proposals to promote the reduction of the use and disposal of single-use plastics. In partnership with GRAME, the organization behind the Éco-quartier de Lachine, and participating municipalities, this program will help families save considerable sums of money and help reduce the amount of household waste sent to landfill.
The cost of disposability
In landfill sites, disposable diapers represent the third largest component of municipal landfill waste. Given that a baby uses between 5,000 and 7,000 disposable diapers, we can conclude that their waste will translate into around one tonne of landfill waste. What’s more, each disposable diaper will take between 300 and 500 years to decompose in the environment.
Why invest in cloth diapers?
Save money!
Cloth diapers save money in the long term, since they are reusable. It can cost approximately $500 for a set of cloth diapers, whereas the bill can climb to $2,000 for disposable diapers worn by a single child.
Second, third life!
Unlike their disposable equivalents, cloth diapers can be reused for several babies. As part of a more ecological approach, they make baby more comfortable!
Cloth diaper models
Source : Naître et grandir
Layers
flat
These diapers consist of a simple rectangle of fabric that is folded and placed in a waterproof diaper cover.
preformed diapers
These diapers are already shaped like a diaper. So they don't need to be folded before being placed in a waterproof diaper cover.
Diapers
with pocket
The waterproof diaper cover has a pocket into which an absorbent pad is inserted.
Diapers
all-in-one
These diapers are similar to disposable diapers. They are usually made in one piece, but some may have a detachable absorbent portion.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
South-West district
Accepted products ⭐️
- New cloth diapers;
- Used cloth diapers purchased from a specialized company;
- The following diaper accessories: absorbent insert, flat diaper fastener, diaper cover (waterproof fabric or wool), soiled diaper transport bag.
For sustainable personal care products, please visit the dedicated page.
Financial assistance 💰
This program reimburses 50% of the purchase price of diapers for babies, up to a maximum of $150 per child. The reimbursement percentage is increased by 10% for purchases at a City of Montreal retailer, and by 25% for low-income earners.
- Several purchases can be grouped together in a single grant request;
Purchases made within 6 months of the request can be reimbursed by the grant;
There is a limit of one grant request per child; - Refundable purchases must be made in Canadian dollars;
- Shipping and customs charges are non-refundable;
- When a discount has been offered on the total amount of an invoice presented by the citizen, without clear indication of which products are being promoted, the discount is applied proportionally to the original price of each product covered by the program, and the refundable amount paid to the citizen will be calculated by GRAME from the reduced price of each product covered;
- The refund will be made by bank transfer.
Documents required 📁
A document showing the relationship between the minor receiving the subsidized products and the responsible adult who made the purchase or who will receive the reimbursement. Here are the eligible supporting documents, bearing the name of the minor and the name of the responsible adult:
- Birth certificate or birth certificate of the minor.
Proof of residence in the name of the responsible adult. Here are the eligible supporting documents:
- Valid driver’s license;
- Current year’s lease;
- Tax account;
- Electricity or telephone bill for the four (4) months following the purchase of cloth diapers.
Purchase invoices, showing the description and price of each product and the name of the company that sold the products.
- Invoices for purchases made online must show the name and address of the citizen making the request.
A specimen cheque in the name of the responsible adult.
Gaspésie (RITMRG)
This program is aimed at the population of the MRC du Rocher-Percé and the town of Gaspé.
Financial assistance 💰
This program offers a refund of 50% of the purchase price of ecological/sustainable products, up to a maximum of $250 per address per year. The reimbursement percentage is increased by 10% for purchases from a merchant in the municipalities of Port-Daniel-Gascons, Chandler, Grande-Rivière, Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé, Percé and Gaspé.
- Several purchases can be grouped together in a single grant application;
- Purchases made in the current year can be reimbursed by the grant, until the budget is exhausted;
- Refundable purchases must be made in Canadian dollars;
- GST and QST sales taxes, delivery charges and customs fees are not refundable to citizens;
- If a discount is applied to an invoice total without specifying which products are on promotion, the discount will be allocated proportionally according to the original price of each product covered by the program. GRAME then calculates the refundable amount based on the reduced price of each product concerned.
- The refund will be made by bank transfer;
- The subsidy program ends on the earliest of the following dates:
- December 31, 2026; or
- When program funds run out.
Documents required 📁
- Recent proof of residence in the name of the person receiving the subsidized products.
- Purchase invoices, showing the date of purchase, the description and price of each product, and the name of the company that sold the products.
- Only invoices for the current year will be accepted;
Invoices for purchases made online must show the name and address of the applicant. - A specimen cheque in the name of the person receiving the subsidized products or the adult responsible.
- A document indicating the relationship between the minor receiving the subsidized products and the responsible adult who made the purchase and will receive the refund:
- Birth certificate, birth certificate, adoption certificate or judgment indicating the relationship of the minor or dependent to the responsible adult.
Eligible products ⭐️
Please note – Although this page is dedicated to menstrual and incontinence products, the RITMRG subsidizes many other products. The list is available below.
- Durable personal hygiene products (PHPD) for menstruation and incontinence
- Menstrual cups or discs;
- Washable menstrual pants;
- Washable sanitary towels;
- Washable pantiliners;
- Absorbent inserts / removable towels;
- Absorbent pants and protective underwear for bladder weakness;
- Washable incontinence products;
- Adult diapers (including washable absorbent inserts).
- Cloth diapers for babies
- New cloth diapers;
- Used cloth diapers purchased from a specialized company;
- A complete diaper rental service for a minimum 12-month period;
- The following diaper accessories: absorbent insert, flat diaper fastener, diaper cover (waterproof fabric or wool), soiled diaper transport bag.
- Electronic and household appliance repairs
- Screens
- video games
- cellular
- tablet
- computer
- e-reader
- television
- sound system
- radio
- household appliance (large or small),
- solar energy
- marine electricity
- Eco-responsible, reusable packaging
- Juice box
- Snack bag (fabric or silicone)
- Reusable water bottle
- Reusable food packaging (e.g. beeswax)
- Bowl covers
- Lunch box
- Insulating container
- Reusable utensils
- Reusable stainless steel, glass or bamboo container
- Rechargeable battery charger and rechargeable batteries (maximum of 4 batteries per address)
- Bidet (maximum 1 per address)
- The hand-held bidet;
- The bidet module;
- The bidet toilet seat;
- The “intelligent” toilet;
- The freestanding bidet.
- Note: Bidet installation costs are also eligible.
Municipality of Frelighsburg
Accepted products ⭐️
- New cloth diapers;
- Used cloth diapers purchased from a specialized company;
- Cloth diaper materials purchased from a supplier;
- The following diaper accessories: absorbent insert, flat diaper fastener, diaper cover (waterproof fabric or wool), soiled diaper transport bag.
For sustainable personal care products, please visit the dedicated page.
Financial assistance 💰
The program offers a reimbursement of 50% of the purchase cost to a maximum of $150 CAD per child aged 0 to 24 months, resident of Frelighsburg, or a reimbursement of 50% of the purchase cost to a maximum of $250 CAD per family resident of Frelighsburg for a multiple birth of children aged 0 to 24 months.
- There is a limit of one grant application per child per family residing in Frelighsburg;
- Several purchases can be grouped together in a single grant application;
- Refundable purchases must be made in Canadian dollars;
- GST and QST sales taxes, delivery charges and customs fees are non-refundable;
- When a discount has been offered on the total amount of an invoice presented by the citizen, without a clear indication of which products are being promoted, the subsidy refund will be applied to the price of the items concerned after the discount, and not to the regular price indicated on the lines of the products concerned on the invoice;
- The refund will be made by bank transfer.
Documents required 📁
A document showing the relationship between the minor receiving the subsidized products and the responsible adult who made the purchase or who will receive the reimbursement. Here are the eligible supporting documents, bearing the name of the minor and the name of the responsible adult:
- Birth certificate or birth certificate of the minor.
Proof of residence in the name of the responsible adult. Here are the eligible supporting documents:
- Valid driver’s license;
- Tax account;
- Hydro-Québec service invoice;
- Gas bill;
- Invoice for telephony services;
- Internet bill.
Invoices for purchases, showing the description and price of each product and the name of the adult responsible for the minor.
A specimen cheque in the name of the responsible adult.
City of Lévis
Accepted products ⭐️
- A set of a minimum of twenty (20) new, reusable cloth diapers;
- A set of a minimum of twenty (20) used and reusable cloth diapers purchased from a company;
- A set of up to twenty (20) reusable liners for use with reusable diapers.
For sustainable personal care and other eco-friendly products, please visit our dedicated page.
Financial assistance 💰
This program reimburses 50% of the purchase price of the above-mentioned products, up to a maximum of $150 per child. The reimbursement percentage is increased by 20% for purchases from a Lévis merchant and by 20% for low-income earners, in accordance with article 7 of by-law RV3552.
- Any claim for which the reimbursement amount is less than $25 (i.e. the percentage reimbursed on your total bill) is ineligible for the program;
- Several purchases can be grouped together in a single grant application;
- Purchases made within 270 days of application may be reimbursed by the grant;
- There is a limit of one grant application per child, who must be less than eight (8) months old at the time the grant application is sent;
- Refundable purchases must be made in Canadian dollars;
- GST and QST sales taxes, delivery charges and customs fees are not refundable to citizens;
- When a discount has been offered on the total amount of an invoice presented by the citizen, without clear indication of which products are being promoted, the discount is applied proportionally to the original price of each product covered by the program, and the refundable amount paid to the citizen will be calculated by GRAME from the reduced price of each product covered;
- The refund will be made by bank transfer.
Documents required 📁
A document showing the relationship between the minor receiving the subsidized products and the responsible adult who made the purchase or who will receive the reimbursement. Here are the eligible supporting documents, bearing the name of the minor and the name of the responsible adult:
- Birth certificate;
- Birth certificate;
- Birth certificate;
- Health insurance card;
- Adoption deed.
Proof of residence in the name of the responsible adult.
Here are the eligible supporting documents:
- Valid driving license;
- Current year’s lease;
- Tax account;
- Electricity bill or telephone bill dated no more than three (3) months before or after the purchase of the cloth diapers.
Purchase invoices, showing the description and price of each product and the name of the company that sold the products;
- Invoices for online purchases must show the name and address of the person making the request.
A specimen cheque in the name of the responsible adult.
Quebec City
Who can participate? 👀
Any natural person domiciled in the City of Québec at the time of application.
Accepted products ⭐️
A set of a minimum of ten (10) new, washable and reusable diapers and/or panty liners without absorbent inserts for babies;
A set of a minimum of ten (10) new washable and reusable diapers and/or pants with absorbent inserts for babies.
For sustainable personal care products, please visit the dedicated page.
Financial assistance 💰
This program offers a reimbursement of 60% of the purchase price of the above-mentioned products, up to a maximum of $200 per child. The reimbursement percentage is increased by 15% for products purchased from a Quebec City retailer;
- Several purchases can be grouped together in a single grant application;
- Purchases made up to 180 days before the application date may be reimbursed by the grant;
- There is a limit of two grants per child;
- Refundable purchases must be made in Canadian dollars;
- Taxes, delivery charges and customs duties are not refundable;
- When a discount has been offered on the total amount of an invoice presented by the citizen, without clear indication of the products on promotion, the discount is applied to the original price for each product covered by the program, and the refundable amount will be calculated by GRAME from the reduced price of each product covered;
- The refund will be made by bank transfer.
Documents required 📁
The following supporting documents must be submitted (by photo or scanned) when submitting the application via the online form.
- Invoice(s) for eligible products (in Canadian dollars only).
- One of the following proofs of residence in the name of the applicant:
- Tax account or ;
- Current year’s lease or ;
- Electricity account or internet and telephone service provider or ;
- Valid driver’s license ;
- A specimen cheque.
For cloth diapers: a document indicating the link between the child receiving the subsidized products and the responsible adult who will receive the refund:
- Birth certificate or birth certificate bearing the child’s name and the name of the adult applicant.
Choose the form for your municipality :
Participating municipalities
Frequently asked questions
GRAME will reimburse the fee within 30 working days, provided the information supplied is correct. You will receive information on your request by e-mail.
- Healthy for babies and free from the fifty or so chemicals found in disposable diapers, cloth diapers are less irritating to the skin and cause fewer allergies.
- Cloth diapers are soft, comfortable and made from natural fibers.
- Cloth diapers don’t leak any more than disposables, because the different models are adjustable to the baby’s morphology.
- Cloth diapers can make potty training easier.
Yes. However, you must be careful to submit both invoices in the same application.
Please refer to the terms and conditions section to find out what you are entitled to.
If you have forgotten to include one of your supporting documents with your claim, you can always send it by e-mail to the following address: phpd@grame.org within a maximum of 5 working days.
Many Quebec municipalities already have subsidy programs for cloth diapers. If your town doesn’t yet offer such a program, here’s what you can do: Find out the important facts!
If the funds for your municipality are exhausted, we recommend that you contact your municipality to let them know of your interest in the program. This may encourage your municipality to continue its subsidy program.