Inclusive Practice - Universal design in provision of sanitary bins

Universal design is about designing spaces and services so they work for the widest range of people as standard — not just for an “average” user, and not only once someone requests an adjustment. It recognises that people’s bodies, identities, health needs, and daily circumstances vary, and that good design anticipates that variation from the outset. In practice, universal design reduces the need for people to disclose personal information, ask for help, or rely on “special” facilities to meet basic needs. It quietly makes everyday life easier.

A simple example is the provision of sanitary bins in all toilet facilities, rather than only in women’s toilets. On the surface, this is a small change. In reality, it’s a practical design feature that supports a wide range of users and helps toilets function as genuinely inclusive spaces.

For trans users, access to appropriate toilet facilities is often shaped by heightened scrutiny, anxiety about being challenged, and the pressure to minimise time spent in a space that may not feel safe. If sanitary bins are only available in certain toilets, people can be pushed into awkward choices: using a toilet that feels less safe, carrying waste out with them, or seeking out a specific cubicle or an accessible toilet to meet a basic need. Providing sanitary bins in every toilet removes one more reason someone might have to “plan” a toilet visit or compromise their comfort and safety. It also avoids reinforcing assumptions about who menstruates or who may need to dispose of menstrual care products.

For users with medical conditions, the need for disposal facilities can be routine and non-negotiable. People may use incontinence pads, stoma supplies, wound dressings, catheter products, or other medical items that need discreet disposal. When bins aren’t available, the alternatives are often undignified: holding onto waste, leaving the toilet to find a bin elsewhere, or using whichever facility happens to have a bin — commonly the accessible toilet.

The Boys Need Bins Too campaign is a useful illustration. While the name highlights boys and men, the campaign’s core message is about the widespread medical need for sanitary bins in toilets that don’t traditionally provide them — including for people managing long-term health conditions. It has been backed by a range of charities and organisations because it speaks to a simple reality: many people rely on products that require discreet, hygienic disposal, and they shouldn’t have to choose their toilet facility based on whether a bin is available.

Universal design means those users don’t have to disclose health needs, explain themselves, or rely on a limited facility to manage everyday care. It also removes the pressure to use the accessible toilet “just because it has a bin”.

That point matters beyond individual experience. Accessible toilets are a limited resource and are essential for many disabled people. When sanitary bins are only available in accessible toilets (or only in some gendered toilets), people who need a bin can be pushed toward those spaces — not because they require an accessible toilet, but because the disposal option is there. By placing sanitary bins in all toilets, the University helps ensure that accessible facilities remain available for the people who specifically need them.

This is what universal design looks like at its best: a low-cost, low-friction change that removes barriers, protects privacy, supports safety, and improves the experience of the entire community — without requiring anyone to ask for permission to meet a basic human need.

If you would like to discuss this work further, please contact Sam Parr via .