At RFA, we’re dedicated to educating the public about what not to flush. While many of us know the basics (look for the Do Not Flush symbol!), the conversation about period product disposal is too often overlooked.

We were happy to talk to Claire Coder, the inspiring founder and CEO behind Aunt Flow, about her company’s innovative approach to accessible menstrual hygiene and responsible disposal. Claire founded Aunt Flow in 2016 at just 18 years old, dedicating herself to developing a solution to help businesses and schools provide quality period products for free in public bathrooms—and to do so sustainably.

You can now find Aunt Flow dispensers filled with free period products in 60,000 bathrooms across the United States, UK and Canada, anywhere from office spaces to sports stadiums and beyond, but the mission doesn’t stop at dispensing. As the company expanded, Claire and her team came up with a new way to tackle another problem: traditional disposal solutions for period products are, frankly, gross. We’re talking about those metal bins with the awkward brown wax paper bags that never quite fit.

Let’s be honest: those bins are unhygienic and unappealing. As Claire pointed out, nobody wants to touch them, and the risk of exposure to biohazardous waste is a real concern. This leads to a troubling statistic: a survey revealed that 30% of people would rather flush pads and tampons than come into contact with an unsanitary, overflowing waste bin.

And we know when people flush pads and tampons, they can cause clogged pipes, which can lead to massive problems like sewage overflows and necessitate expensive repairs.

Enter Aunt Flow’s two-part disposal system, designed to be hygienic, convenient and environmentally conscious:

• Disposal Bag Dispenser: Mounted in each stall, this dispenser provides individual cornstarch-based bags. Users can insert their hand into the bag, remove the used product, invert the bag to seal it and tie it closed — all without ever touching the menstrual product.
• Touch-Free Disposal Bin: This larger bin, placed in the bathroom, features a motion sensor for hands-free disposal. Inside, a continuous liner bag system (similar to a diaper pail) allows for easy and sanitary waste removal by custodial staff.

The system minimizes contact with waste and improves the convenience of disposal. It also serves as a visual reminder of proper disposal methods along with the Do Not Flush symbol, which Aunt Flow will be adding to its products at RFA’s recommendation.

While implementing a system like Aunt Flow’s does involve an upfront investment, Claire emphasized that it can pay for itself with just one plumbing repair. She cited an example of an organization that spent $5,000 to repair an entire septic system clogged with improperly flushed items. Investing in proper disposal is basically an insurance policy against costly plumbing disasters.

With a system that offers both free period products and convenient disposal solutions, Aunt Flow is empowering menstruators to live a bit more worry-free and practice responsible flushing.

Watch Aunt Flow’s recent webinar where we joined to discuss period product waste management. For more information about their solutions, educational resources and advocacy materials visit Aunt Flow’s website.