Quantification of Menstrual Waste and Development of Appropriate Disposal and Management Strategy

The literature on menstrual waste disposal methods is limited and consequently little is understood about women's management of menstruation and menstrual waste in the country. This study reports the analysis of the menstrual waste in Delhi city employing the quantitative research methodology. The monthly average quantity of sanitary napkins for the month of February 2017 at four different locations in West zone of Delhi city were identified. They are Dwarka, Jankapuri (Higher class), and Najafgarh, Sagar pur (Middle class). It has been observed that the calculated sanitary napkins quantity are very high and being mixed in Municipal solid waste at these four locations in Delhi. This study also investigated how women and girls manage menstrual waste in the Delhi, in the light of potential environmental degradation. Personal interviews were conducted to determine the methods of menstrual waste disposal that are used in Delhi, higher and middle income groups. The results of the study indicate that sanitary napkins are widely used by the urban women and girls across religious, age, and caste groupings. Hygiene and discretion were identified as major factors of concern for women in dealing with menstruation, and lack of facilities for appropriate menstrual disposal practices in the outdoors was reported. Majority of women reported that menstruation has a restraining effect on levels of enjoyment and comfort experienced during outdoor activities. Most participants indicated that carrying home used products is the best method of menstrual waste disposal and they are also willing to install sanitary napkin disposal unit in homes.