UWE Bristol among first universities in UK to introduce sanitary waste bins in male toilets

UWE Bristol is among the first universities in the UK to introduce sanitary waste bins in male toilets for the disposal of incontinence products.

As part of a pilot project, sanitary waste bins have been installed in cubicles and communal areas in 20 male toilets across the University’s Frenchay campus for disposing of incontinence pads or pants, stoma items or other medical and sanitary products.

The move was spearheaded by Nikki Cotterill, Professor of Nursing in Continence Care, who says UWE Bristol is acknowledging the needs of male staff and students within the Higher Education sector and is levelling up its offering to allow people to dispose of continence management products with dignity.

She said: “This is a fantastic leap forward to ensure male staff and students have appropriate facilities to dispose of much needed products with dignity. Men experience incontinence for varied reasons, and it is often overlooked, assuming this is a problem for women only. This is an important development in raising awareness of these issues and enabling everyone to feel supported.”

Professor Cotterill, Director of Bristol Health Partners’ Bladder and Bowel Confidence Health Integration Team, is committed to changing the narrative around continence care, empowering people to self-help and improving continence education and training. With nationwide partners, she developed the CONfidence app to support people with continence issues in 2021.

The University’s cleaning team and its sanitary waste disposal partner Initial worked with Professor Cotterill on the provision of the additional bins.

Clive Davis, UWE Bristol’s Cleaning Team manager, said: “There was an unmet need at UWE Bristol, with males being at a disadvantage to females in our service provision. I’m pleased that we were able to address this problem and it is great for our university to be taking the lead in our region.”

According to NHS England, an estimated 14 million people in the UK have bladder problems and an estimated 6.5 million adults have bowel problems.

National campaigns ‘Boys need Bins’ and ‘Stalls for All’ are calling for legislation to be introduced to ensure hygiene bins are provided in all male toilets. Initial's campaign ‘Stalls for All’ has support from Lewis Moody, former England Rugby Union Captain, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2005.

Professor Marc Griffiths, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Regional Partnerships and Engagement at UWE Bristol and formerly the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Health, said: “Health, dignity and inclusion must be integral to the university experience for all and I’m proud to promote the fact that we are among the first universities in the UK to pilot the provision of sanitary waste bins in male toilets across our Frenchay Campus.

“This initiative, led by Professor Nikki Cotterill and advocated by Clive Davies addresses a critical gap in how our sector supports the health and wellbeing of male staff and students.”