Vectair releases US research on feminine hygiene waste

30th of August 2013
Vectair releases US research on feminine hygiene waste

Hygiene products specialist Vectair Systems has released a research paper focusing on the approach and attitudes towards feminine hygiene waste disposal in the USA.

The research was conducted to learn more about what women really think with regards to waste disposal in public washrooms, as well as their usual practices and whether they feel their needs are sufficiently met.

In Europe various legislations place a duty of care obligation on every business operator to ensure feminine waste is managed properly up to the point of disposal. In the USA however there is no current legislation for the safe disposal of feminine hygiene waste and standard washrooms contain small receptacles fastened to the wall, which women have to touch to open, and which can often overflow and release unpleasant smells.

Vectair Systems’ research, involving women of all ages across 12 states in the USA, found that the vast majority (91 per cent) use a receptacle of some kind in the washroom to dispose of their sanitary waste. A small percentage (seven per cent) flush their waste down the toilet.

At the beginning of the study 68 per cent of women found their current method to be the best way to dispose of their sanitary waste. After comparing practices in the USA to Europe, the majority of the women in the study were less satisfied than before that their current method of waste disposal is the best method, both in terms of the environment and hygiene.

One hundred per cent of women who use waste receptacles in the washroom would be happy to use a feminine sanitary disposal unit fitted with an odour control liner and placed next to the toilet (similar to those in Europe), and 98 per cent would actually prefer it.

According to the research, 96 per cent of women would feel safer using a waste unit that is coated in an antimicrobial protector. Interestingly, of those who flush their waste down the toilet, the majority would prefer to keep on flushing, which indicates that drain blockages and their environmental impact may not be a particularly big concern within this group, as opposed to the ease of flushing.

www.vectairsystems.com

 

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