My Dragon's Den Idea (if I could actually design it) would be....

[CreativeGreen]

.... bins for sanitary products that actually work. (Yes, I know - Mooncups - but they don't work for everyone or in all situations)

Even leaving aside the fact that they're rarely emptied regularly enough, these things are useless. The little foot-depressor thing is never where you can reach it - often the bin has been placed the wrong way round so the depressor is against the cubicle wall. Even if not, it's rarely in a place where you can easily access it while holding the full tampon you just removed, hence still not having been able to pull up pants or trousers. So you try to sort of nudge up the little hatch without touching it, because it's covered in blood stains and probably a pad whose sticky bit means it's still stuck at the top.

Like I say in the title - I have no idea how these could be better, but I feel sure they could. What would anyone else patent, if they could? (or does anyone know how these could be better? or, better yet, have any knowledge of better systems?)

This. I’m certain all public toilets are designed by men. No,
we don’t want to sit on top of the sanitary bin when we use the loo, thanks.

@BillieWiper , They're for sanitary items like tampons and incontinence pads and I think there are regulations about the disposal.
Would you want to handle a bin full of used nappies or incontinence pads?

sorry quoted wrong post

yeah, I do that.

but there is still some crumbs and dust that I never can get rid of completely

I don't know. Not if I could help it. That's why I thought they had special companies that deal with it.

I'm fairly sure they have to be emptied by specific companies/staff, yes - and quite right too, tbf - the issue is no doubt with workplaces and businesses not scheduling those companies to come in often enough.

I was trying to use one yesterday where pressing the foot thing simply had no effect at all - they're just not well designed, or well placed, in any way. And no matter how much you wrap the stuff up in loo roll, the whole process is just rubbish and poorly thought-out.

They absolutely do need to be emptied by licenced companies. We have them at my restaurant and I’m sorry to say that Initial (the company we use) have foiled your Dragons’ Den plans- ours have sensors on the top you just wave over and they open then close automatically. And they work!

I need one that open pill or mouthwash bottles that you have to pinch on both sides, my fingers are not strong enough. My husband sorts all my pills.

Silent zips for tents

An agency that matches councils parks and trees departments with zero-carbon companies - to stop companies buying up farmland at premium rates just to plant offsetting trees and making farmland unaffordable for farmers - the companies can plant trees where councils need them in parks and to replace street trees

Don't be sorry! That's brilliant, I hope they start appearing everywhere!

An app that locates local carers who you can call upon like an uber at an hourly rate.

I'm in!

I follow this guy on Facebook.
www.facebook.com/thephantomplanter

Honestly, this would be an amazing idea! I recently had an extremely unplanned spinal operation and could have done with just being able to hire someone to nip round for an hour to help with some minor bits and bobs.

This is really geeky, but foldable IV stands that are sturdy but easily stored.

I've spent enough time going backwards in wheelchairs to know it makes you horribly motion sick.

The sanitary bins would be better like those nappy bins where it goes in a bag and you twist a handle and it ties it up.

Sanitary bins should dispense a small chocolate bar when we put a used item in it. Like you put pad or tampon in and shut it then a chocolate bar drops down in a chute. That’s a necessity if ever I saw one.

Sun cream drink that then gives your whole body protection.

Healthy, savoury, shelf stable snacks. To keep in your bag or desk type stuff. The savoury partner to a cereal bar.

I’d invent a shower cubicle that drys you off afterwards. Like a huge walk in hand dryer. You’d be toasty warm, the shower wouldn’t go mouldy and you’d only need a hand towel.