Are you a man who is hesitant about going out and instead you stay at home feeling that you can’t join everyday activities because you use an incontinence product and there are so few places in public toilets where you can discreetly throw them away?

The government says it is supporting a UK campaign – #InWithTheBins – which encourages organisations and businesses to install sanitary bins in men’s toilets so that men are not faced with the embarrassing situation that my late father once had when we were out together. He had his key for the public disability loo but there was no sanitary bin in there and he came out with his carefully-wrapped soiled incontinence pad and asked me to dispose of it in the Ladies’. He felt very uncomfortable having to do this.

There are many reasons why a boy or man may need to use incontinence pads but cancer (particularly bladder or prostate) is the most common. Cancer Research UK reports that there are about 140 new cases of prostate cancer every day (it’s the most common cancer in men) but it has a 78% survival rate. That means a lot of men needing and wanting sanitary bins in public lavatories.

One cancer-survivor in a recent BBC news article explained that “the problem is, we have a product we have to dispose of and there’s nowhere to put it.” The same article stated that the government said it was providing £30m to help councils “expand and improve” disabled toilet facilities and that this includes sanitary waste bins. But why only in the facilities for the disabled? We talk a lot about women having periods and there
are always sanitary bins in the women’s loos, isn’t it about time we talk about the needs of many men and have, as standard, sanitary bins in men’s loos too?

Beverley Lott has been asking about what is available for men in this respect in public places in Barrow and she has found that her question usually meets with surprise, initially, but interesting conversations follow. She has discovered that, like many provisions for people’s needs, this one requires careful management, the allocation of time and money. There are questions around the frequency and safety of disposal – although, would this not be similar to the sanitary bins in ladies’ toilets? Questions also arise around issues of bins being used for dog waste,
babies’ nappies, etc. Again, would this not be similar to the sanitary bins in ladies’ toilets?

However, it seems to be agreed, that greater awareness, openness, respect and tolerance are, as so often, key to any improvements in
facilities and understanding. Perhaps men should start standing up for themselves and start asking for these facilities. If you want to find out more, search Facebook for @inwiththebins or visit the website: https://inwiththebinscampaign.wordpress.com You can also email to inwiththebins2021@gmail.com