Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Sanitary Bins

35 replies

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 14:01

I have looked for information about providing sanitary bins for females within a voluntary organisation, think Girl Guides, Brownies, Youth Club type scenario

So no paid members of staff, and young 12+ boys and girls attending.

Legally they need to be provided if it is a 'place of work' or if members of the public will use the toilets.

Do they also need to be provided by law, in the establishment I have suggested above?

At the moment, we are told the sanitary products need to be bagged up and taken home at the end of the night.

OP posts:

AchillesPoirot · 21/02/2022 14:05

Where is the activity held?

Original poster

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 14:08

In a specific building used for that activity.

But we have another group who also use the building.

So scots two nights and Girl Guides one night a week

Then its used at weekends and in the daytime, by either group sometimes

OP posts:

Original poster

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 14:09

*Scouts!

OP posts:

LaurieFairyCake · 21/02/2022 14:09

Well they're members of the public so I'd think yes there should be bins

Original poster

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 14:14

Also we are told to take all rubbish home with us as well, as they wont pay for a bin contract.

So it comes home with an adult volunteer to go in their bin.

OP posts:

AchillesPoirot · 21/02/2022 14:23

Who owns the building?

Original poster

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 14:26

The organisation

OP posts:

ffscovid · 21/02/2022 14:26

I would say so. Members of the public include the scouts and guides, no?

However, I can't imagine that it's a frequent issue. How long are the meetings? 1.5-2hrs I'm guessing? Do lots of young people really need to change sanitary protection routinely at meetings?

ffscovid · 21/02/2022 14:28

Although I don't think there's any legal requirement to provide 'proper' sanitary bins. Any waste bin with a supply of little bags (e.g nappy sacks) would suffice. This can then be emptied out with the normal rubbish (presuming the scouts also have rubbish from arts and crafts, snacks etc.).

AchillesPoirot · 21/02/2022 14:31

www.asgc.org.uk/sanitary-disposal-bins/

Wasn’t hard to find.

Can’t the young person change their sanitary protection just before the meeting at home and as soon as they get home? They’re rarely more than a couple of hours long surely?

Kite22 · 21/02/2022 14:36

At the moment, we are told the sanitary products need to be bagged up and taken home at the end of the night.

I think this is pretty usual.
After all, if you have volunteered to run Guides / Scouts / Youth Club / Toddler Group and all that entails, do you want to be emptying out sanitary bins at the end of the meeting once everyone has gone home ?
Most people will only be there 90mins - how many will need to use the bin ? If so, could the person who needs it not just take it home ?

Also we are told to take all our rubbish home with us as well as they won't pay for a bin contract
I'm fairly sure, if you wanted to add that cost to your rent, then the building owners wouldn't mind.
It is always difficult balancing "what would be nice" with what people are willing to pay for.

oatlattetogo · 21/02/2022 14:47

@LaurieFairyCake

Well they're members of the public so I'd think yes there should be bins

The scout hut isn’t open to the public though, surely that’s what it means? We’re all members of the public, so if it meant any loo that could be used by someone needing a sanitary bin then every toilet not in a private house would need to have one.

Is there not a bin somewhere in the toilets for empty loo rolls, paper towels etc? If not then I’d just put a little swing bin in every cubicle (if budget will stretch to it) and check them after your meeting.

Original poster

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 14:51

Yes there are bins for people to put their rubbish, but at the end of the night they are to be bagged up and the adult volunteer is told to take it home and put it in their own black bin.

There are no black bins or recycling bins at the place

OP posts:

DogsAndGin · 21/02/2022 14:55

It seems unreasonable to females to not provide a suitable bin. You can’t ask them to change their sanitary product before and after the meeting. Some girls are very heavy, or aren’t in a routine yet as being young. I think this will discourage girls from taking part in the organisation

Original poster

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 14:57

Agree Dogs and Gin

OP posts:

Itsalmostanaccessory · 21/02/2022 15:00

This really isnt a big deal. These organisations can struggle for members and money to keep each local chapter going. Asking volunteer adults to empty a sanitary bin and take it home with them as well as the normal rubbish really isnt fair.

It isnt hard for the girls to just take it home with them. The meetings are a couple of hours.

Sometimes you just have to use common sense. That is the easiest solution. We had to do that when I was in brownies and guides. Didnt put us off going.

oatlattetogo · 21/02/2022 15:03

Then surely sanitary towels/tampons etc can just be wrapped up and put in those bins (either straight into those bins or via a little bin in the cubicle) and then taken home with the adult volunteer?

I don’t agree that you should have to take the rubbish home with you but as you do it anyway the occasional sanitary towel is going to make any difference.

kindlyensure · 21/02/2022 15:04

If there are specific sanitary bins then there needs to be a separate contract to empty them. (Which seems unlikely if they are not paying for a bin contract). So are you looking to seek a contract for the emptying or are you looking for specific bins that you will empty?

Original poster

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 15:05

I don't currently do it, I am being told we have to....

I wont be taking any rubbish home with me

OP posts:

Original poster

MrMrsJones · 21/02/2022 15:06

I think we should have a contract for a black bin, and sanitary bin.

If they wont provide a sanitary facility, then at the very least a black bin

OP posts:

Itsalmostanaccessory · 21/02/2022 15:07

Why not? Where is your community spirit?

I was a brownie, a guide and a young leader. if possible, you took your own rubbish with you. Or the leader took the rubbish back at the end.

You dont just leave it there. Bin contracts are expensive. And it is wasteful when you can just take it away with you.

oatlattetogo · 21/02/2022 15:09

@MrMrsJones

I don't currently do it, I am being told we have to....

I wont be taking any rubbish home with me

Surely someone must take the rubbish home with them though? Does one of the scout volunteers do it?

kindlyensure · 21/02/2022 15:09

The thing is, if it is a stand alone building type place (rather than a group of council buildings such as libraries or public loos) it would be super expensive to contract the emptying out. You could ask if the Girl guides organisation has a kind of umbrella contract for that kind of thing I suppose?

Mrsjayy · 21/02/2022 15:10

Is it a church hall or similar they probably have to pay for bin collection and are just being tight fisted they don't have to provide rubbish disposal I'd just get nappy sacks or paper bags for the bins , I don't think the hall Is legally required to provide sanitary bins,

AgentProvocateur · 21/02/2022 15:10

You’d need to enter into a contract with a company to supply and regularly empty the sanitary bins, and that costs money. And they also probably wouldn’t change the bins in the evening when the scout hall is open.

I can’t imagine that there will be that many used sanitary items that putting them in your bin at home would be a problem.

Flip

1 2