I still remember the day I started my first period. Though I knew what was happening, there were still the jitters as it was the first time I was going to face it. And with the mighty plastic sanitary napkin, there began my journey with the monthlies. I was taught to wrap them in a newspaper and then dispose of them. But I have always wondered what exactly happened to them after that. And well with a lot of research, the statistics that are related to the mighty savior isn't that heartwarming. It is said that an average woman can generate up to 125 kg of non-biodegradable waste in her menstrual years. So bringing out your math genies, for 336 million women, the waste generated would approximately take more than 500 years to decompose.
With not sufficient feat going into the dumping of used sanitary napkins, menstrual waste is disposed of as part of routine waste ending up in landfills, thrown in open spaces and water bodies, burnt, buried or, flushed down toilets. Each poses a different kind of risk to the environment.
Most of the ordinary sanitary napkins contain plastic components, super absorbent polymers, and adhesives that are not biodegradable and end up polluting the soil and water beneath while burying the waste.
Due to the lack of a proper disposal system in the public restrooms, the tendency to flush it down the toilet is evident. That results in the clogging of the drains and pipes and contaminates the sewage system along with the water bodies.
Incinerators are installed at various places but they have their effects. Such as low-quality ones give rise to pollution and toxins are released from their burning such as dioxins and furans known as carcinogens.
Believe it or not but taboos also play a role in the disposal. It is considered "Ashudh" in several households, which contemplates hiding it and then disposing of it.
Thus the road to sustainable menstrual waste omission has to be amended not only in terms of the method of disposal but also of the customs governing it.
Written by:
Avani Dineshan Kadoor
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