Menstrual wastes: a Sri Lankan perspective on quantities, characteristics, and issues

Abstract

The importance of good menstruation hygiene management (MHM) practices has gained considerable attention in Sri Lanka, but least attention is given to menstrual wastes regarding the types, quantities, characteristics, disposal practices, and potential environmental impacts due to haphazard disposal. An understanding of the types, quantities, and characteristics of menstrual wastes is crucial to formulate and implement safer collection and environmentally acceptable disposal strategies. Therefore, this paper provides a preliminary viewpoint regarding menstrual wastes generated in Sri Lanka with an overview on source separation (SS), disposal methods, and the legal requirements regarding disposal. Commercially available single-use sanitary pads (100% in Colombo capital city; 17–91% in other regions) and reusable cotton cloths (3–83% in other regions, except in Colombo—0%) are the widely used menstrual hygiene products (MHPs). SS is very low, and overall disposal practices are environmentally unfriendly (e.g., 8–84% flushing into toilets). Pad quantities generated from one menstruator/month are 288.4 g (259.6 g plastic), 360.5 g (324.5 g plastic), and 432.6 g (389.3 g plastic) (from a 5 mL blood-soaked 5 g pad); 436.8 g (393.1 g plastic), 546 g (491.4 g plastic), and 655.2 g (589.7 g plastic) (from a 10 mL blood-soaked 5 g pad); and 568.4 g (511.6 g plastic), 710.5 g (639.5 g plastic), and 852.6 g (767.3 g plastic) (from a 5 mL blood-soaked 15 g pad), and cloths/menstruator/month are 199.4 g, 249.2 g, and 299 g (from a 5 g material) at changing frequencies of 4, 5, and 6 times/day, respectively. Nevertheless, cloth waste quantities that get disposed for any given year are substantially less (due to reuse) compared with sanitary pad wastes. Soiled MHPs are not categorized as infectious wastes or household hazardous wastes in Sri Lanka. Legislative changes with planning of proper SS, collection, and disposal and the use of cotton cloths and/or other environmentally friendly MHPs are suggested.