Disposal of menstrual hygiene products poses as health and waste management problem in Kenya. According to the situational analysis, 65% of the Kenyan rural population dispose of their menstrual products in a pit latrine, in comparison with 50% in urban areas. Moreover, in rural public schools only 1% of girls are able to dispose of their menstrual wastes in an environment friendly manner. The menstrual waste disposal options are limited to pit latrines and trash bins because incinerators are uncommon in Kenya. 

Most menstruators lack the knowledge of how to dispose of sanitary pads and therefore just throw them in garbage bins. The sanitary pads get mixed with general refuse wastes and other hazardous wastes thereby finding its way into municipal waste collection points. Being that it cannot be recycled, the exposed sanitary pads and napkins pose grave health risks for the waste collectors. The chemical components of the disposable sanitary pads such as furan, dioxin, pesticides, and other endocrine disruptors further get into the environment posing aggravated health risks.

There should be increased public health awareness to advocate for the idea of sustainable menstruation. There are sustainable ways to use and dispose of sanitary products without causing adverse impacts to the environment. The governments should further support innovations and solutions to provide compostable sanitary products which doesn’t contaminate the environment.

People need education on waste collection and segregation to manage used menstrual products. The government should set aside waste collection points for used sanitary products and invent various ways in which they can be disposed of in a sanitized manner. At household levels, there should be set up pits to contain only menstruation management products. Menstruation affects everyone and should not be left as a ‘women thing.’