With growing awareness surrounding menstruation and menstrual health, a newly emerging problem has been added to the mix. According to a joint report by WaterAid and MHAI (Menstrual Health Alliance India), 336 million women experience menstruation in India, with approximately 121 million women using disposable sanitary pads. With an estimated 500-800 years for one pad to decompose, sanitary pads are one of the largest and fastest-growing environmental as well as health hazards.
In an effort to increase sanitary health, rural women are often introduced to disposable sanitary pads as they are cheaper and more readily available. By introducing women to disposable napkins instead of encouraging safer natural and traditional practices (using a clean cloth for example), there is not only an increased risk of environmental degradation but also a higher risk of contracting diseases. When women don’t have access to proper means of disposal, they end up wearing pads for much longer than recommended which could increase the risk of toxic shock syndrome, reproductive tract infections and other deadly diseases.
Youth Ki Awaaz surveyed to analyse the different types of disposal methods that Indian women employ. The findings are given below.
Burning
According to the survey conducted by YKA, 3.1% of the women who responded disposed of their sanitary waste through burning. Using incinerators can help reduce the load on landfills, but if the waste is not dealt with at WHO recommended temperatures of around 800ºC it can cause environmental damage. Burning sanitary wastes at lower temperatures not only increases the levels of air pollution but also increases the risk of health issues due to the toxic chemicals and carcinogens (Cancer-causing substances) that are released into the atmosphere.
Burying
More commonly seen in rural areas, burial is one form of waste disposal practised by women who do not have access to a proper garbage disposal. YKA’s survey concluded that only about 1.5% of the women surveyed practised this form of disposal. It is important to note here that the overwhelming majority of respondents to the survey were urban women and burying is uncommon in urban areas due to lack of space and more access to other forms of disposal. Women dwelling in slums use pit latrines which are covered in soil when filled. This form of disposal is not sustainable as disposable sanitary pads contain plastic that takes centuries to degrade.
Disposing Of In Dustbins Without Sealing
Practised by 2.4% of respondents, disposing of unsealed sanitary pads in dustbins is a dangerous form of waste management. Soiled pads are a breeding place for all sorts of germs and diseases. There is a chance of manual scavengers and garbage collectors contracting deadly diseases by coming in contact with sanitary napkins used by women afflicted with illnesses like HIV, Syphilis or Hepatitis.
Flushing
Lack of proper waste bins and sanitary facilities forces girls in urban areas to flush their pads down the toilet. Improper knowledge and infrastructure forces young women to engage in such unhygienic practices. YKA’s survey concluded that very few women, 0.9%, practised this form of disposal. Flushing pads down toilets not only blocks the sewage system causing trouble to sanitation workers and cleaners, but it also causes sewage backflow, which is very dangerous to anyone else who uses the toilet. Dumping menstrual waste in toilets also increases the growth of bacterial cultures and breeds diseases.
Sealing And Disposing Of In Public/Private Dustbins
Sealing and disposing of is the most commonly practised form of waste disposal in urban areas, a whopping 64.7%, according to the survey. Most of the popular sanitary napkin brands have products that come with disposable wrappers that women can use to wrap soiled pads. Wrapping pads are a small step towards protecting the sanitation workers who have to manually segregate wastes in landfills with little to no protective equipment. Separating menstrual waste from other waste in the household would also go a long way in helping protect garbage collectors as well as the environment.
We must do our part to ensure the safety of sanitation cleaners and workers while disposing of menstrual waste. Programs like the ‘Green the Red’ campaign which advocates for safe, eco friendly and sustainable menstrual products; and Pune Municipal Corporation’s ‘Red Dot Campaign’ which encouraged residents to segregate and mark sanitary waste, have helped change the menstrual health sector for the better. Education, encouraging the use of sustainable menstrual products and breaking the taboos surrounding menstrual health and hygiene would go a long way towards creating a safer, eco-friendly and healthy menstrual landscape for young girls.
The author is a part of the current batch of the #PeriodParGyan Writer’s Training Program