Businesses hold a duty of care to staff and visitors which is why it’s mandatory to provide sanitary bins in workplaces, this has been the case in terms of regulation since 1992. 

 

However, many are now pointing out that men have been overlooked. It is far less common to see disposal facilities in male toilets, aside from bins in public areas for tissues or hand towels.

 

It’s important to have an understanding of why men may need sanitary bins to spark change and ensure that men are equally provided for, so, why is it so important? 

 

Prostate Cancer

According to the charity Prostate Cancer UK, approximately one in three men over the age of 65 will experience urinary incontinence, while one in twenty men aged 60 and over will face bowel incontinence.

 

A campaign called Boys Need Bins is fighting for men's rights and dignity in public loos, asking the government to update legislation and change the law to ensure they have access to safe and dignified disposal. 

 

The campaign strives to create a more supportive environment for men dealing with prostate cancer and related health issues, emphasising the importance of proper disposal options for incontinence products.

 

The Law & Legislation 

Whilst the Boys Need Bins campaign is fighting to change the law, and MPs are already discussing it which is a good step in the right direction, we can look at current legislation to make practical decisions to be more inclusive in the meantime.

 

There are two pieces of legislation which highlight the need for immediate provisions.

 

1. The Water Industries Act 1991 states no items should be flushed that may cause a blockage which can be a serious risk if no sanitary bin is provided.
   
   
2. The Environmental Protection Act 1990, states that businesses have a legal duty of care to manage waste on their premises up to the point of disposal.

 

So, if a male is using incontinence products and has no way to dispose of it, there is a high likelihood that they will be forced to flush the product or manage the waste in a more harmful manner.

 

Therefore, the most logical and fair thing for businesses to do is to provide disposal facilities before it becomes law, which in our opinion, it most likely will (and should).

 

What Do To Next

Whether you’re a small business owner, facilities manager or manage a large retail centre, now is the perfect time to review your duty of care guidelines and look at ways you can provide for men in your toilets.

 

This includes:

 

• Ensuring you have enough private cubicles to provide adequate privacy for the number of men within (or likely to visit) your facilities 
• Providing adequate and compliant ways to dispose of adult nappies, incontinence pads and menstruation products 
• Ensuring the means of disposal are private, easy to access and dignified 
• Break down stigma by educating key staff members, cleaners & Health & Safety personnel 
• Write to your MP. Prostate Cancer UK has a helpful resources page and can help you make a difference in your community 

 

Cost Considerations

One of the major factors working against this movement is unsurprisingly, cost. This is a common misunderstanding and concern, however, as we believe the benefits can outweigh the costs:

 

• Sanitary bins equate to a small monthly fee in comparison to affording male dignity. In fact, Janitorial Direct can supply bins from as little as £1.20 +VAT per week. Also, bins do not have to be in each individual cubicles, they just need to be clearly marked. 
• Men would likely choose a venue where bins are available over somewhere that does not provide for them 
• Unblocking toilets is highly expensive, requiring specialists and potentially thousands of pounds to resolve, which also has a knock-on environmental effect 
• Forcing staff to stay in expired sanitary products can cause unpleasant health issues causing illness, poor mental health and work absence 

 

How We Can Help 

We offer a wide range of waste disposal units, sanitary bins, incontinence bins and nappy bins - all of which can be used to dispose of male incontinence products. 

 

Our services are discreet and reliable giving the customer peace of mind while being empathetic to the situation. All our waste is incinerated not landfilled, with ‘Duty of Care’ waste transfer notes emailed directly to the customer after every service. 

 

Our sustainable paperless service software has Real-Time service tracking, and all our service operatives are fully trained with enhanced DBS certification.