Bathroom maintenance is essential for cleanliness and hygiene, in any commercial or residential space, and part of maintaining health standards in the workplace is ensuring that there is an appropriate system in place for sanitary waste disposal.
By keeping sanitary items separate from general waste and preventing improper disposal, sanitary bins in the workplace provide a simple, hygienic means of eliminating a potential biohazard and raising health standards for all workers.
Queensland businesses have legal obligations to provide sanitary units, or feminine hygiene bins, as part of maintaining hygienic washroom facilities for female workers and customers. In the interest of taking pressure off, many business owners hire a sanitary waste management service, like Excel Hygiene, to manage sanitary waste and ensure compliance with health regulations.
In this blog, we’ll cover the information you need to ensure that your work environment is compliant with sanitary waste management regulations.
TL;DR
- Sanitary waste bins are a crucial feature in any washroom facilities.
- Businesses are responsible for developing a safe process by which to dispose of sanitary waste and following both state and nation-wide regulations.
- Increasingly, smart business owners are taking advantage of professional waste disposal services to ensure that their facilities are compliant.
Construction Site Requirements: A Brief Overview
According to Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, principal contractors have a duty to provide amenities, including toilets, for construction work. In terms of design, toilets must be
- fitted with a hinged seat and lid
- provided with lighting and ventilation
- clearly signposted
- fitted with a hinged door capable of locking from the inside on each cubicle
- designed to allow emergency access
- positioned to ensure privacy for users
- separated from other rooms by an airlock, a sound-proof wall and a separate entrance that is clearly marked.
Toilets should be supplied with:
- toilet paper for each toilet
- hand washing facilities
- rubbish bins
- for female workers, hygienic means to dispose of sanitary items.
Sanitary Waste Disposal Legislation in Australia
It’s one of many questions business owners must be able to answer: are sanitary bins a legal requirement in Australia?
The answer is, it depends – while there is no sanitary waste disposal legislation Australia-wide, there are state-specific guidelines around sanitary bins.
According to Safe Work Australia guidelines, workplaces across Australia with a unisex toilet are required to provide access to one closet pan, one washbasin and means for disposing of sanitary items – sanitary bins, for example.
Queensland Guidelines
Queensland businesses have a set of specific legal requirements to follow when it comes to the management of sanitary bins and the disposal of feminine hygiene products.
Essentially, Queensland-specific guidelines recommend that premises generating sanitary hygiene waste develop their own procedures by which to handle, store, transport and dispose of it. According to the Department of Environment and Science Section 7, sanitary hygiene waste – meaning disposable nappy and incontinence product waste and sanitary products – must be managed under an effective waste management plan that provides clear guidance on waste handling, storage, transport and disposal.
Effective waste management begins with correct classification and segregation at the source, particularly when dealing with problematic disposals such as large quantities of disposable nappies. Given the challenges associated with managing and disposing of nightsoil (pathogens, fecal-borne diseases, and detrimental environmental impacts, to name a few), it’s important to note that sanitary hygiene waste from any facilities whose primary function is not healthcare-related, or from aged care facilities and the geriatric and maternity care areas of hospitals, does not fit this classification.
These laws also vary by industry and project delivery location; for example, under new laws to be introduced in 2025, the Queensland construction industry will implement requirements for principal contractors to ensure that female workers have access to designated female toilets and improved amenities.
Excel Hygiene Services’ Director Kim Moseley says many more businesses may need to re-evaluate their approach to the management of sanitary items and bins in washrooms. “The easiest way for businesses to navigate these new regulations safely will be to enlist professional help to ensure that all sanitary waste is properly disposed of.”
Why It Is Important
The safe disposal of sanitary waste has a wide range of benefits, not only for female workers who use the business premises daily, but also for other employees and customers.
First and foremost, federal and state governments enforce a legal requirement on business owners across Australia to provide safe, effective waste management and sanitary disposal facilities.
Beyond these regulations, maintaining a hygienic bathroom space and an appropriate system for employees and customers to safely dispose of sanitary waste is essential for health and morale.
By minimising contact with sanitary waste, well-maintained sanitary disposal units and waste management facilities prevent any unnecessary spread of bacteria in toilet hand washing facilities.
Ensuring that sanitary items are properly disposed of is also crucial in preventing washroom waste from clogging drains and causing plumbing issues.
Given the value that a clean washroom can bring to any work environment, many businesses invest in professional sanitary waste management and disposal services from Excel Hygiene Services. To find out more about us and how we could be of service in your washrooms, contact us on 1300 345 895 today.
How to Choose the Right Sanitary Bin Service Provider
When selecting a sanitary bin service provider for your washrooms, it’s important to consider your business requirements.
For instance, an appropriate system for a business with many staff on site – particularly female workers – may involve a greater number of sanitary bins.
It may also require a more regular service to ensure the safe disposal of material that is considered a biohazard.
When choosing a provider of washroom cleaning and sanitary waste management services, use this checklist:
Responsive
Can they offer safe disposal of sanitary waste when your business needs it, preventing sanitary waste from affecting safe work conditions?
Flexible
Do their hygiene services cover a range of clinical waste that must be disposed of, including things like disposable nappies?
Professional
Can they offer a consistent sanitary waste disposal service with a regular technician that meets your business’ needs?
One-stop service
Does their hygiene service go beyond sanitary waste to cover other aspects of maintaining a hygienic bathroom environment? This includes taking care of adequate supply of washroom consumables such as toilet paper and paper towels, and even installing and servicing soap dispensers and air freshener dispensers.
Cost of Non-compliance and Cutting Corners
Codes of practice, such as “Managing the Work Environment and Facilities” from Safe Work Australia, exist to protect the health and safety of workers across the country, a matter of serious importance. Whether based in Queensland, New South Wales or any other state Australia-wide, businesses must comply with both state and national regulations around the disposal of sanitary waste.
For businesses and workplaces that fail to comply with the regulations that govern sanitary waste disposal, there are a range of potentially severe consequences, from fines to facility closure.
What's next?
An effective sanitary waste disposal process is crucial for the health and wellbeing of anyone who uses your facilities, and for the environment. If you’re considering enlisting professional waste disposal services, choosing a one-stop service provider could save you time and money in the long run, and improve your overall business operations.
Now is the time to ensure compliance and protect your peace of mind. Call Excel Hygiene Services today on 1300 345 895 or fill in our contact form to obtain a free quote.