Clean toilets are one part. What happens to the used sanitary pads and diapers is the other part – and no one talks about it.
Used napkins and diapers, if dumped openly, harm health, environment, and sanitation workers. But stigma keeps the issue hidden.
Karad – a small city in Satara district, Maharashtra – has tackled this head-on.
What Karad Does:
It ensures 100% segregation, collection and processing of sanitary and biomedical waste.
Nearly 300 to 350 kg of sanitary waste is collected DAILY from hospitals, clinics, households and other facilities.
Yes, daily. 350 kg.
How They Did It – Step by Step:
Step 1: Break the Taboo
First, they had to talk about it. Karad Municipal Council (KMC) did workshops, community outreach, public announcements explaining the risks of careless disposal.
They worked with women residents to form awareness groups. Women talking to women across residential areas. That’s how the message spread.
Step 2: Make Disposal Easy
- Separate red bins were placed in public toilets to make safe disposal easier for women.
- Schools were encouraged to install sanitary pad vending machines AND disposal systems.
- IEC team urged users to wrap used pads in paper.
- Many schools have since installed incinerators. Their residue goes to the biomedical waste treatment plant.
- Garbage collection vehicles carry a separate bin for sanitary waste. Staff sort it so only suitable material reaches incinerator.
Step 3: Build a High-Tech Solution – 1200°C Incinerator
KMC partnered with Karad Hospital Association. This is a PPP model:
- KMC allocated land for biomedical waste treatment plant
- Hospital Association operates and maintains it
This is a 600 kg/day Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF). It processes the sanitary waste collected by the council free of charge.
- Its central incinerator reaches temperatures up to 1,200°C – so hot that everything is destroyed safely
- Gases are filtered to remove harmful substances
- Emissions are monitored in real-time and linked to State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) system
The Result:
- This PPP partnership eased council’s financial burden – it only bears collection and transport costs
- High-temperature incineration reduced health risks and protects sanitation workers who handle waste
- Open dumping has been eliminated – no more pads in drains, rivers, garbage dumps
- Prevents environmental contamination and reduces spread of diseases
- Improved quality of life, particularly for women
Karad proved – safe disposal is not just about technology. It’s about breaking taboo first.
From red bins in public toilets to 1200°C incineration – a small city showed India how to handle 350 kg of sanitary waste daily with dignity.
Source: PIB Delhi – “Dignity by Design: Innovation Reshapes India’s Public Toilets” – Karad Smart Sanitary Solutions section – 02 OCT 2026
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