A recent study has highlighted that safe and sustainable disposal of menstrual waste remains a significant challenge in rural Punjab, despite the widespread use of sanitary pads. The research points to considerable gaps in menstrual waste management infrastructure and awareness.
Importance of Proper Menstrual Waste Management
Proper menstrual waste management is crucial for protecting public health, ensuring occupational safety for sanitation workers, and mitigating environmental degradation. It helps transform menstruation from a potential biological and environmental hazard into a sustainable and hygienic practice.
Disposal Systems Neglected Despite Market Expansion
Despite the rapid expansion of the sanitary product market, disposal systems continue to be severely neglected. The study noted that socio-cultural norms, product availability, personal preferences, and levels of awareness significantly influence menstrual product choices and disposal practices.
Policy and Coordination Gaps
The study pointed out that menstrual waste management has long remained a neglected concern despite increasing policy attention to menstrual hygiene and awareness. Persistent socio-cultural taboos and limited coordination among key stakeholders, including the Central Pollution Control Board, solid waste management authorities, and other implementing agencies, have weakened the planning and implementation of effective disposal systems.
Key Findings from the Study
The study, titled "Flushed, Burned, or Forgotten? The Climate Cost of Menstrual Waste in Rural Punjab" by Kavita Saharan of Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Patiala, and published in the International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, found that while 95.3% of adolescent girls surveyed used sanitary napkins, safe disposal practices lag behind.
Data Collection and Methodology
Data was collected from adolescent girls in rural villages of Fazilka district through individual interviews. Government schools were also visited to assess the availability and condition of menstrual hygiene facilities, including waste disposal systems.
Disposal Practices
Only 4.7% of respondents reported using cloth as a menstrual absorbent, while 76.7% said they dispose of absorbents after a single use. The most common disposal method, reported by 34.7% of respondents, was discarding used absorbents in designated village solid waste dumping areas, commonly known as Roohdi. Another 18% reported burning used absorbents, while 17% buried them. A further 14.7% disposed of absorbents in village ponds or water bodies, 12.7% flushed them down toilets, 2% washed and reused absorbents, and 1% reported other methods. Some respondents also reported disposing of sanitary pads in open drainage pipes outside their homes, leading to blockages.
School Facilities
The study examined menstrual waste disposal facilities in schools. It found that 62.7% of respondents reported that their school had a functional incinerator. However, 7.3% said the incinerator was not working, 12.7% reported that it existed but had never been used, 3% said it remained locked, and 14.3% stated that their school had no incinerator at all. These findings suggest that while many schools have installed incinerators, challenges related to functionality, accessibility, and usage continue to hinder effective menstrual waste management.
Preferences and Barriers
The study further found that 61.7% of girls preferred changing sanitary absorbents in school toilets, while 38.3% preferred waiting until they returned home. This could indicate discomfort with school sanitation facilities, inadequate toilet conditions, or fears linked to social beliefs. Some respondents reported feeling uncomfortable because girls' toilets were located close to boys' toilets.
Broader Implications and Recommendations
The study concludes that while various menstrual health management schemes have improved access to sanitary products and reduced school absenteeism among adolescent girls, they have not adequately addressed deeper infrastructural and psychosocial barriers. Increasing numbers of girls delay changing sanitary products until they return home, reflecting concerns about the adequacy, hygiene, safety, and cultural acceptability of school sanitation facilities.
Need for Holistic Approach
With less than five-and-a-half years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the study argues that menstrual health interventions continue to focus largely on product distribution and awareness campaigns, while menstrual waste management remains inadequately addressed despite its implications for environmental sustainability and public health.
The study recommends a holistic approach to menstrual health and hygiene that includes inclusive education, improved infrastructure, policy coherence, and efforts to challenge stigma and taboos surrounding menstruation. Awareness programmes should extend beyond girls to include boys, parents, and communities, while also promoting safe usage and environmentally sound disposal practices.
Incinerators Not Enough
The study further notes that merely installing incinerators is insufficient for effective menstrual waste management. Proper training, accessibility, regular maintenance, and community sensitisation are needed. Many school incinerators were poorly maintained, broken, rusted, unused, or lacked awareness among students and staff regarding their operation.
Specific Recommendations
- Expanded disposal infrastructure in public spaces such as community halls, bus stops, and primary health centres.
- Regular monitoring and maintenance of facilities.
- Culturally sensitive community engagement.
- Promotion of sustainable menstrual products such as menstrual cups, reusable cloth pads, and biodegradable alternatives through greater affordability, accessibility, education, and community outreach.
The study concludes that addressing menstrual waste management requires not only technical and environmental solutions but also a broader shift in societal attitudes towards menstruation and menstrual health.
