Wrexham Council first in north Wales to install men’s sanitary bins in public toilets

Wrexham Council has become the first local authority in the region to install men’s sanitary bins at publicly owned toilets in the city centre.

Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Boys need Bins’ campaign aims to provide men with the same access to sanitary bins in toilets that women have and highlights just what a barrier incontinence can be particularly for those with Crohn’s Disease and Prostate Cancer.

1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer, and some experience bladder and bowel problems as a side effect of their treatment.

In the UK, about 1 in 3 men over 65 will experience urinary incontinence issues, while 1 in 20 men aged 60 and over will experience bowel incontinence.

Many of these men have nowhere convenient or discreet to dispose of their sanitary waste.

Men’s bins are now available in the following locations:

• Wrexham Bus Station
• Wrexham Library
• Henblas Street toilets
• Tŷ Pawb
• Wrexham Memorial Hall

Nigel Williams, Lead member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “This first came to my attention when a member of the public raised the issue with a fellow councillor who in turn contacted me.

“At the moment across the UK men who need sanitary bins have to use disabled facilities or even carry a carrier bag.

“Both are stigmatising and degrading and I’m very pleased to say the situation in Wrexham has now improved for their benefit.”

“I hope to see many other establishments across the county borough join with us and offer men sanitary bins in their facilities to help improve the situation even further.”

Nick Ridgman, Head of Health Information and Clinical Support at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “A man living with incontinence deserves the freedom to leave the house without worrying about whether he can get rid of his used pads hygienically and discreetly.

“Despite the fact that 1 in 3 men over 65 experience urinary incontinence, there’s a dire lack of sanitary bins in gents’ toilets and a paralysing taboo surrounding the issue.

“Almost all the men living with incontinence who we’ve spoken to feel anxiety about leaving the house, with many telling us they’ve even had to carry their soiled pads around in a bag.

“I’m delighted that Wrexham Council is backing our Boys Need Bins campaign and introducing sanitary bins in their men’s loos.

Elsewhere in Wales, Transport for Wales and the councils of Torfaen, Chepstow, and Carmarthenshire have taken the same action.

“While we’re pushing to get the law changed, so that every man has access to a proper bin, in the meantime it’s exciting that real progress is happening here in Wales and across the UK.

“As a charity we’re working to reach as many men in Wales as possible, because too many are getting an advanced prostate cancer diagnosis.

“Prostate cancer often has no symptoms and the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat. You can check your risk in 30 seconds using our Risk Checker on the Prostate Cancer UK website.”

To find out more how your establishment could help the situation even more then please visit Prostate Cancer UK.