To not want to empty sanitary bins at work!?

[Cocobug]

For context, I work with food in a cafe type thing and we have several different outlets. One of the outlets is off site and requires you to drive there in the work vehicle, it has toilets slightly separated from the building.
I have never felt comfortable with this but it was agreed by my manager (after pressure from another department) that every week we would transport the sanitary bins & nappy bin in our work vehicle to the main toilet for them to be emptied. The sanitary company won't come to this location to empty them.

The cleaner has been emptying the nappy bins when they get full and leaving the yellow waste bags full of nappys in a storage shed at this location.

Today I was approached by them, saying I had to make sure the two bin bags of nappies along with the bin be taken tomorrow for the sanitary waste company. Firstly, it is not sanitary considering that I work with food and been given no PPE to compete this. Secondly, I physically struggle to transport the nappy bin when it is full. I cannot lift the massive full bin bags of dirty nappies. (Just for context sometimes when we put the nappy bins in the back of your vehicle, they do fall over as we don't have anyway to secure them and sometimes dirty nappies are rolling all over the back of the van when you arrive)
The response was 'well youre just going to have to do it'
I don't think legally the cleaner should be emptying them. (I will get on this tomorrow as if they are getting that full we obviously need more)
But also how can I nicely say that no Im not going to be doing this because I'm struggling to lift it up. It seems like I'm making an excuse, but nappies are so heavy!! I'm sure under the duty of care law I also shouldn't be transporting the bins at all.

Aita to be thinking that really I shouldn't be transporting these sanitary bins in the first place! ?

This might be useful, it details who can and can't deal with sanitary waste and why and the laws around it.

There are regulations around who can transport sanitary/nappy waste, firstly all individuals working in the industry require immunity to Hep B etc.

Most importantly such waste should not be transported without proper documentation! Environmental Protection Act 1990 covers it, there are later amendments but essentially it ahould only be transported by a registered waste carrier.
Apart from possible sickness there are many other hazards e.g. needle stick injury is possible, especially if the waste is now in a fragile bin bag instead of a protective hard bin…. Don’t do it OP.

No, that’s grim. Don’t do it. I bet it’s that your work are too tight to pay for it than the sanitary company won’t go to the site. Is the work vehicle also used to transport food? If so that’s even more disgusting.

I know there is a waste carrier licence for the vehicle but I'm sure this doesn't cover sanitary waste aswell

Yes also used for food.
But generally the food doesn't go where the sanitary bins are because it's like two parts but still I am walking through food areas after. I find it all unsettling

you are not being unreasonable for not wanting to handle these or lift heavy bags but the nappies rolling around the back of the van can easily be sorted by using an elastic band / cable tie to fasten the tops of the bags shut- has no one at your company got any common sense in regard to this?

I would raise it with HR as a health and safety issue.

I would make the point that it’s illegal for you to do it because it’s a biohazard. Not so much the nappies but definitely the sanitary bins, could contain blood which is carrying Aids etc.

No when I worked as a cleaner in an office (albeit a long time ago) we did not touch sanitary units, they were always dealt with by a separate company. You are right to highlight that you have had no specific training…if staff are expected to do certain aspects there should be a protocol and safe systems of work….carrying overflowing nappy bins that spill out in your works van is not a safe system of work ( who is responsible for disinfecting the work van !). If you were to catch something like salmonella or e.coli or c.diff. it would mean serious repercussions for the cafe if you would then pass that onto your customers. Take pictures if you can of the process to prove your point especially dirty nappies loose in the back of the van !

Thanks all, I had a really good chat with the person who has taken over the management of this. We are going to see if we can get the company to go and get them instead as I think this will be better all round for every department.
Otherwise it will be hopefully taken on board by the inhouse facilities team 🙏