Why Do We Need Sanitary Bins
All employers have a legal requirement to provide female employees with a suitable means for disposing of sanitary waste. This includes the safe management of waste on your premises right up to the point of final disposal. (The Environmental Protection Act 1990).
As with most things in life, these guidelines are often reviewed, with guidance being tweaked from time to time. Disposing of sanitary waste via a third-party provider, ensures you receive evidential proof that the sanitary or continence items within your bins are disposed of responsibly and appropriately with duty of care provided.
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Sanitary Waste |
Incontinence |
Personal Hygiene |
 |
 |
 |
|
Sanitary pads |
Adult Incontinence pads |
Wipes |
|
Menstrual cups |
Children’s nappy waste |
Cotton wool |
|
Tampons |
Leg bags and stoma |
Soiled materials |
How often do I need this service?
Consider the number of people who may need to dispose of sanitary and incontinence waste and adjust the frequency of disposal so that it suits your business. For example those with fewer employees might prefer an 8-weekly service, whereas companies experiencing frequent footfall, such as cafes and large offices might prefer a weekly service.
What do I need to check?
Your preferred contractor must have a current waste carrier licence. Prices vary between providers and location has a part to play. We are aware that a charge of up to £300 per bin per annum has been imposed in some places, whereas in other regions, by different providers, servicing averages out at £95 – £130 per bin per annum (based on 13 services per year of a single bin). But when you check prices, please consider also whether there are additional costs for administration and certification, the length of a contract and its flexibility. Perhaps you could find out if the company local – is it independent or is it national?
Why is this so important?
As well as providing dignity in the workplace through the provision of appropriate waste disposal, you are also protecting the environment by encouraging your workers to properly dispose of their waste (as this should be separated other forms of waste and should never be flushed).
Research:
According to (Friedler et al., 1996) tampons accounted for around 23% and pads for 3.8% of all unflushables polluting the sewage system. Sanitary pads, mostly composed of plastic, are also washed up in marine areas and can pose a hazard to marine organisms and human health (Ó Briain et al., 2020).
