Safe and Responsible sanitary waste disposal matters

Human race faces a huge challenge that most of us are unaware of. Spreading awareness about sanitary waste disposal has become the need of the hour. As per research 2 billion tonnes of solid waste is generated yearly across the world. World Bank estimates that this figure will rise upto 3.40 billion tonnes by the year 2050.

Around 33 percent of global waste is not disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Thus, sanitary waste contributes to pollution and environmental degradation.

Sanitary Waste Disposal Methods

Disposing of sanitary waste, which includes menstrual products in an environmentally friendly manner is a challenge. Women use menstrual products that add to environmental degradation. Disposable sanitary products like menstrual pads take over 800 years to decompose. In India around 12 billion sanitary pads are used annually. A good 98 percent of them end up in landfill sites, and water bodies.

Pune is in the forefront of adopting environmentally friendly sanitary waste disposable methods. In 2023 Pune’s civic body planned to start sanitary waste processing unit – a first of its kind in India. Sanitary waste disposal is a massive challenge in India because plastic used in sanitary products are non-biodegradable leading to environmental and health issues. Choosing the right sanitary pad truly matters, and disposing them of in a right manner is equally vital. Due to lack of awareness, we neglect this issue thus, resulting in unhygienic surroundings, foul odour and harming the environment.

We need to wrap pads correctly, and dispose them of in a proper place. Every small thing matters in the sanitary waste disposal process. If we will be careful and thoughtful about the process and methods it will contribute to better and cleaner environment

Why Sanitary Waste Disposal Matters?

Most sanitary pads are made up from plastic. The back sheet, top sheet and adhesives contain plastic and they don’t break down easily. Thus, they should never be composted and flushed in the toilet.

People do wonder if sanitary pads cause cancer since synthetic material is used while manufacturing them. Thus, sanitary waste disposal in the right manner becomes even more important for your health and the environment.

Simple routine at home:

Keep a separate bin to dispose sanitary pads.
Wrap the pad inside a disposable pouch.
Throw it in the separate dustbin.
Wash your hands with a handwash after you dispose the pad.
When you dispose the sanitary pads from your house, throw them in the right category – dry waste and wet waste.

Simple routine at work, public toilets/restrooms and school:

Dispose of the pads in bins with lids.
Wrap them well to avoid them from coming off easily.
Never flush the pads, because it leads to clogging and harms the environment.

Just in case your school or workplace don’t provide separate bins, have a word with the authorities and request for proper bins. You can get in touch with our Naree Care team https://nareecare.com/blogs/ as well since we provide special bins for sanitary waste disposal.

Hostels, and community spaces:

In community spaces you will always find appropriate sanitary waste disposal methods as per government rules.
If you don’t have these basic facilities, raise a complaint to ensure necessary steps to be taken.
Keeping these spaces clean is mandatory since hygiene impacts everyone.

Processes while traveling and during emergencies:

While traveling if bins are not available, it is best to carry disposable bags.
Never flush the pad. Dispose off the properly wrapped sanitary pad in the nearby general waste bin.
If you are on a flight, directions will be mentioned in the cabin. Follow them and don’t dump the pad in the toilet.

Follow these instructions if you are a facility manager:

Ensure that closed sanitary bins are available in the toilet.
Also, disposable bags should be available to dispose of the sanitary pads.
Educate women that they should not flush sanitary pads.
After discarding the pads, they should be disposed of properly.

Naree Care Services https://nareecare.com/ ensures not just access to sanitary pads, but also safe disposal. They provide sanitary pads disposal bins with covered lids. Get in touch with our team to know more about sanitary waste disposal methods.