Menstrual Taboos —> Environmental Crisis in India
Not only have long-standing taboos surrounding menstruation in India rendered a widespread physical and mental health crisis among women, there is a rampant environmental crisis that has been newly sparked. The latest national survey reveals that a mere 48% of rural women and 78% of urban women utilize hygienic methods of menstrual protection. Notably, the participants in the survey ranged from 15 to 24. The most pressing problem existing in India currently is its lack of disposal infrastructure. It is seemingly difficult to quantify the menstrual waste that has amalgamated in developing countries. According to estimates derived by Martina Lopez of the University of Manchester, by 2070, India could be dealing with a staggering 800,000 tons of menstrual waste on an annual basis. Today, the waste amounts to approximately 100,000 tons of menstrual waste. But, this only constitutes the waste from discarded, disposable pads.
Reportedly, there are a multitude of other methods through which women in India dispose of their waste product. These methods include burning, washing, and wrapping them in plastic bags before throwing them away on the street. Surprisingly enough, these actions are fed by the notion of shame associated with menstruation. In fact, many interviewed subjects viewed menstrual blood as a source of harm to those exposed to it. Thus, waste pickers tend to integrate menstrual product waste with other waste, heightening the risk that the waste is not adequately disposed of.
According to Lopez, the following are some actions that could be potentially taken by policymakers to make a substantial difference:
Integrate disposal information across menstrual hygiene management programs
Collect data on the usage of menstrual products
Develop waste management systems that reduce the quantities of menstrual waste.
Collaborate with NGOs to train waste pickers
As aforementioned, it is of the utmost importance to drive change in waste management techniques and prevent an already detrimental environmental situation from exacerbating. As Lopez states, “This needs to change now.”
