Oxfordshire County Council is offering parents a £30 incentive this week to promote the use of reusable nappies.

It estimates babies in Oxfordshire use enough disposable nappies to fill Cornmarket Street to a height of 10 metres every year. Disposing of the waste costs it £300,000 a year.

The council says that in the first two years of its life a baby can get through 5,500 nappies.

To mark the beginning of Real Nappies Week on March 29 the council is appealing for more people to use reusable nappies and is offering a £30 incentive. The campaign is co-ordinated by the Women's Environmental Network to raise awareness of the problem and to provide parents with a choice.

The target is to convert an additional 155,000 households to reusable nappies by April 2006.

County councillor Anne Purse, executive member for strategic planning and waste management, said: "We support Real Nappy Week because it can provide information to parents about the range of re-usable nappies available, many of which are a far cry from the traditional terry nappies and are much more user-friendly."

Council waste reduction officer Katie Zabel said: "The benefits of using re-usable nappies are wide-ranging.

"Parents can save hundreds of pounds by washing nappies at home. Local authorities benefit from significant reductions in household waste.

"Maternity wards that encourage the use of real nappies reduce their clinical waste costs and future generations will benefit from a better, cleaner environment."

Parents have the chance to win a pack of 10 reusable nappies in a free draw, which can be entered in doctors' surgeries and at next week's special events. To find out more, log on to www.nappyline.org.uk or call 01983 401959. To claim your £30 call 01235 812747.