A recent article from gov.uk indicates that approximately 2 billion menstrual items are flushed down toilets annually in the UK.
It’s sadly a common misconception that flushing sanitary products down the toilet is the best disposal method. In fact, 2.5 million tampons, 1.4 million pads and 700,000 panty liners are flushed daily. This improper disposal contributes to environmental pollution and significant costs for water companies, estimated at £100 million annually to address blockages and related issues.
This is not a sustainable number and can in fact cause numerous problems for your business and the country itself. Your business’s sewage pipes could become blocked as a result of this and a potentially costly bill for the removal as well.
According to the Marine Conservation Society, it is crucial not to rely on waste treatment plants alone to filter out sanitary waste from our sewers. However, the problem extends beyond sanitary products alone. Other common items such as wet wipes, cotton wool buds, paper towels, and oils/fats also contribute significantly to blockages.
A staggering 8.6% of Britain’s beach litter is sewage-related debris. In 2023, over 29,500 sewage-related items, including wet wipes, cotton bud sticks, and sanitary products were recorded on UK and Channel Islands beaches. Something no one wants to encounter on a trip to the coast.
In light of this, we encourage everyone to remember the simple yet effective slogan: “Bin it, don’t flush ut.” This campaign, adopted by numerous water service companies across the UK, seeks to address the increasing challenges posed by flushing inappropriate items down the toilet.
For businesses, it is important to consider installing appropriate feminine hygiene disposal units. These units provide a discreet and responsible way to handle sanitary waste, ensuring compliance with the Duty of Care regulations, which mandate that companies with female employees or customers must provide access to sanitary disposal facilities. Ignoring these regulations could result in legal consequences.
For more information about our feminine hygiene disposal solutions or any other hygiene-related products, please do not hesitate to contact NWR Hygiene. We are always happy to assist.
