Overlooked your sanitary waste disposal responsibilities and it is not just poor hygiene and bad smells; it can land your business in serious legal trouble.

The Law You Can’t Ignore

Two key pieces of UK legislation cover sanitary waste:

• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 – employers must provide suitable sanitary bins in women’s toilets.

• Environmental Protection Act 1990 – places a duty of care on businesses to handle all waste, including sanitary waste, safely and responsibly.

These aren’t guidelines or nice-to-haves. They’re legal requirements, and failure to meet them can bring consequences.

Getting Found Out!

There is more than one way to get caught.

• Staff and people working at your premises. Can anonymously report you, and they probably will if you haven’t provided basic sanitary services.

• Customers, Clients, or Visitor. Looks bad on you, and they may well report you out of indignation.

• Local Authority. Do carried random checks from time to time.

It is really easy to report a business, so given the low cost, just get a bin!

What’s at Stake

• Fines – Local authorities and regulators can issue significant financial penalties for breaches.

• Prosecution – in more serious cases, businesses (and their directors) may face court action or even imprisonment.

• Inspections – the Environment Agency in England, Natural Resources Wales in Wales, and local councils all have powers to investigate.

• Reputation – staff, customers, or inspectors noticing poor hygiene can do long-term damage to your business image.

A washroom without proper sanitary bins isn’t just unpleasant — it sends a message that the business doesn’t care.

Why It Matters Beyond Compliance

Sanitary bins aren’t there to tick a legal box. They’re about:

• Protecting staff and visitors from infection risks.

• Preventing bad odours and blockages.

• Creating a professional environment that people want to use.

In hospitality, healthcare, education, and offices, these basics say a lot about how a business is run.

How to Stay on the Right Side of the Law

The safest route is to work with a licensed provider who can:

• Supply and regularly service sanitary bins.

• Collect and dispose of waste in line with regulations.

• Provide documentation (waste transfer notes) as proof of compliance.

At Anway Washroom Ltd, we’re Environment Agency certified and proud to support businesses across Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Barnsley, and the wider East Midlands and South Yorkshire. We take care of the details so you can get on with running your business.