Japanese Facilities Add Sanitary Bins to Men’s Restrooms

Facilities across Japan are installing sanitary disposal boxes in men’s restrooms to accommodate growing use of incontinence pads and adult diapers. The Japan Times reported June 29 that the change responds to an aging population and rising numbers of cancer patients.

The bins are often mistaken for regular garbage receptacles, the report said, creating a need for clearer guidance on their intended purpose.

Minna ni Yasashii Toire Kaigi, a Nagasaki-based citizens’ group whose name translates as “everyone deserves a nice toilet council,” began promoting the placement of such bins after a doctor at Nagasaki University consulted the organization. The group focuses on making restrooms accessible to all users.