Male Sanitary Waste Bins

Many men who have had treatment for prostate cancer can find they suffer from side effects including incontinence. Around 70% of men who have surgery to remove the prostate gland have problems controlling their bladder six months later. While most people get better within three to six months of their operation, for some it can take one or two years. A small number of men might have permanent urinary problems.

Urinary incontinence can also affect the male population more generally with more than 10% of men over 65 suffering from urinary incontinence to some degree. Two conditions can also contribute to urinary urge incontinence, prostatitis (an infection of the prostate gland), and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) also known as an enlarged prostate.

Many men who suffer from incontinence will make use of sanitary products to help manage the condition. However, with male toilets not required by law to have a sanitary bin (unlike female and unisex bathrooms), men can often find themselves with nowhere to dispose of used products. This can lead to feelings of embarrassment or low mood, and can even contribute to some avoiding leaving the home or attending social settings.

While work is being done to raise awareness and some major names are installing male sanitary bins, such as Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium and Thameslink trains, the overall picture is patchy.

We contacted large chains across the UK spanning retailers, fast food restaurants, pubs, cinemas, and service stations among others, totalling 25,448 locations.

The replies indicated that:

• 10,157 of these locations did not have a male sanitary bin
• Only 1,089 could be confirmed as having a male sanitary bin
• Brands representing the remaining 14,202 locations either could not confirm or did not respond to the request for information.

Many amazing charities are championing this issue, most prominently Prostate Cancer UK. Their ‘Boys need Bins’ campaign works with a range of other charities to raise awareness for the need for men’s sanitary bins.

Their website has helpful information on the campaign and provides resources for those who wish to help by writing to their local MP, councillor, or businesses to encourage them to add men’s sanitary bins.

To ensure male sanitary bins are easily accessible to users and businesses, and to encourage uptake, we’re happy to provide any company willing to add male sanitary bins to their bathrooms with free bins. The same as with other sanitary bins we provide to businesses, there are no delivery fees or hire charges – you only pay for collection.

As a leading waste broker, we source the best sanitary waste collection supplier for your business, suiting your needs, location, and budget. Call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online today for a free quote and more information.