Sanitary Waste Disposal Law and Regulations

Sanitary bins are a legal requirement in the UK for workplace bathrooms. Every business in the UK is legally required to provide appropriate facilities and means for the disposal and collection of sanitary products in female washrooms and unisex facilities.

There are three acts that oversee the legal requirements for managing sanitary waste within UK businesses. These are the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the Water Industries Act 1991, and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Failure to provide adequate sanitary bins in your workplace bathrooms could be a breach of these legal regulations and result in a large fine. Having sanitary waste bins present in workplace washrooms helps keeps staff and visitors comfortable, so should be a priority for every employer anyway.

There’s no single sanitary waste disposal law in the UK. Instead, a few different regulations cover the area and make it a legal requirement for businesses to have a feminine hygiene bin in their women’s and/or unisex bathrooms. These regulations are the:

• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 – these recommend that all organisations should provide a suitable method for disposing of sanitary waste in their female toilets. Regulation 21 of this act makes suitable and sufficient sanitary facilities (and disposal methods) obligatory within workplaces. It also requires sanitary bins to be emptied regularly and kept clean.
• Water Industry Act 1991 – this act regulates the water industry in England and Wales. It states that no sanitary items should be flushed, which could cause a build-up or blockage in a sewer or drain system (such as used menstrual products). Providing bins for sanitary waste helps compliance and reduces the risk of people flushing sanitary waste products.
• Environmental Protection Act 1990 – makes it clear that businesses have a duty of care to safely and properly manage waste (including sanitary waste), from storage to disposal. It introduced the ‘duty of care’ for waste producers, carriers, and disposers. This aims to protect the environment and human health in how waste is managed.

Ensure your business complies with all sanitary waste regulations in the UK with our professional and reliable services. We provide free bins to store sanitary waste in your washrooms. There are no delivery or bin hire costs – you only pay for collection. Various bn sizes and numbers are available to use.

Licensed waste carriers will remove your sanitary waste on a regular basis at convenient times and dates. Choose from daily, weekly, or fortnightly collections. All sanitary waste is transported and disposed of safely and legally. You receive a free duty of care certificate that confirms such details for added peace of mind.

Speak to one of our friendly and expert team for more information about our sanitary waste services and complying with the laws and legislation. Get a free no-obligation quote and answers to any of your questions today – call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online.