Ensure scientific disposal of piling diapers, napkins: National Green Tribunal

Expressing concern over the adverse environmental impact the unhealthy way of disposing sanitary napkins and diapers would have, the tribunal has held municipal and civil authorities accountable for the damage being caused, while making the multinationals tagged in the case to contribute towards scientific disposal under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by conservationist and a social worker G. Vijaya Kumar, who claimed that manufacturers of sanitary napkins and diapers are bound by Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR) Rule and raised an important issue of how sanitary napkins and diapers are flushed through sewerage into water bodies and are deposited in landfill sites, which causes both air and water pollution.

Though the quantum of waste being generated by these napkins and diapers in Chennai was not available, civic authorities have conceded that it’s ‘enormous’. According to rough estimates, nearly 36 million Indian women use sanitary napkins every month and at an average 12 per month per woman, it amounts to 432 million weighing 9,000 tonnes. A sanitary napkin comprises over 90 per cent crude oil and plastic.

Meanwhile, the Green bench has also ordered the manufacturers to make consumers more aware and shall incorporate prominently devoting at least 10 per cent of space/time with respect to each of the advertisement in the print and electronic media, issued by them for their products, to educate consumers.