Publication:

Flushed, burned, or forgotten? The climate cost of menstrual waste in rural Punjab

Background Menstrual waste management has long remained a neglected concern despite increasing policy attention to menstrual hygiene and awareness. Persistent socio-cultural taboos and limited coordination among key stakeholders, including the Central Pollution Control Board, solid waste management (SWM) authorities, and other implementing bodies, have weakened the planning and execution of effective disposal systems. This misalignment not only affects the health, dignity, and mobility of women and adolescent girls, but also restricts their access to education and public spaces, reinforces gender-based inequalities, and contributes to environmental degradation, positioning menstrual waste as a critical yet overlooked component of sustainable development.

Methods The present study draws on empirical data collected from adolescent girls in rural villages of Fazilka district, Punjab. Individual interviews were conducted, and government schools were visited to observe and document the availability and condition of menstrual hygiene facilities, including waste disposal strategies, to assess infrastructural support.

Results The findings reveal that although a majority of adolescent girls now use disposable sanitary pads, safe and sustainable disposal remains a major challenge. Despite the rapid expansion of the sanitary product market in India, disposal systems continue to be severely neglected. Socio-cultural norms, product availability, personal preferences, and levels of awareness significantly shape menstrual product choices and disposal practices.

Conclusions The study further establishes a clear linkage between menstrual waste management and multiple sustainable development goals (SDGs), emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive menstrual education for all genders, contextual revision of existing schemes, and stronger monitoring and implementation mechanisms to integrate menstrual waste management into broader frameworks of environmental sustainability and gender equity.