Global Review of Sanitation System Trends and Interactions with Menstrual Management Practices Report for the Menstrual Management and Sanitation Systems Project

This 2011 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the relationship between urban sanitation system trends in developing regions and the disposal of menstrual absorption materials. It identifies that menstrual products, particularly those with super-absorbent materials, frequently cause blockages in water-borne sewerage systems and accelerate the filling of on-site pit latrines. The report argues that menstrual management is largely ignored in sanitation design and advocates for the integration of women's needs and the promotion of solid waste disposal routes for menstrual materials.

• Menstrual absorption products, especially those containing super-absorbent polyacrylate polymers, are a significant cause of blockages in water-borne sewerage systems globally. These materials swell when saturated and can combine with grease to form 'fatbergs' in larger pipes, while causing immediate blockages in smaller diameter pipes (225mm or less).
• In Sub-Saharan Africa, traditional pit latrines remain the dominant urban sanitation facility and are the only type increasing faster than the urban population. Menstrual waste disposed of in these systems reduces their design life by causing pits to fill up faster, as non-biodegradable components do not break down.
• The report identifies distinct regional trends in urban sanitation: sewer systems predominate in China and Latin America, septic tanks are dominant in South East Asia, and latrines are most common in Sub-Saharan Africa, while India presents a mixed picture.
• Menstrual waste creates operational difficulties during the emptying of on-site systems. In some regions, such as Zambia, menstrual products contribute to 25% of suction system blockages during pit emptying, increasing labor costs and time.
• Productive sanitation systems (ecological sanitation) that reuse excreta for agriculture can be affected by menstrual management. While menstrual blood does not microbiologically threaten the composting process, it can discolour urine, leading some communities to regard it as contaminated.
• There is a systemic failure to include menstrual management in the design of sanitation facilities. This leads to a lack of privacy, inadequate space for washing reusable materials, and a lack of waste bins in public and school restrooms, which often forces women to dispose of materials in toilets, causing further system blockages.
• Disposing of menstrual waste through the solid waste system is the recommended alternative to water-borne disposal. A cost-benefit analysis in Scotland suggested that shifting 50% of public disposal habits from water-borne to solid waste routes would result in considerable cost savings for water authorities.

APA

Kjellén, M., Pensulo, C., Nordqvist, P., & Fogde, M. (2011). Global Review of Sanitation System Trends and Interactions with Menstrual Management Practices Report for the Menstrual Management and Sanitation Systems Project. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-ProjectReport-Kjellen-GlobalReviewOfSanitationSystemTrendsAndInteractionsWithMenstrualManagementPractices.pdf

Chicago

Kjellén, Marianne, Chibesa Pensulo, Petter Nordqvist, and Madeleine Fogde. Global Review of Sanitation System Trends and Interactions with Menstrual Management Practices Report for the Menstrual Management and Sanitation Systems Project. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2011. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-ProjectReport-Kjellen-GlobalReviewOfSanitationSystemTrendsAndInteractionsWithMenstrualManagementPractices.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kjellén |first1=Marianne |last2=Pensulo |first2=Chibesa |last3=Nordqvist |first3=Petter |last4=Fogde |first4=Madeleine |title=Global Review of Sanitation System Trends and Interactions with Menstrual Management Practices Report for the Menstrual Management and Sanitation Systems Project |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2011 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-ProjectReport-Kjellen-GlobalReviewOfSanitationSystemTrendsAndInteractionsWithMenstrualManagementPractices.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kjelln2011global, author = {Kjellén, Marianne and Pensulo, Chibesa and Nordqvist, Petter and Fogde, Madeleine}, title = {{Global Review of Sanitation System Trends and Interactions with Menstrual Management Practices Report for the Menstrual Management and Sanitation Systems Project}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2011}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-ProjectReport-Kjellen-GlobalReviewOfSanitationSystemTrendsAndInteractionsWithMenstrualManagementPractices.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }