The ‘costs’ of absorbent hygiene product mismanagement: A mini-review of contemporary literature from the Global South

Abstract

The mismanagement of absorbent hygiene product (AHP) waste - including disposable diapers, sanitary pads, and incontinence products - represents an emerging but understudied challenge across the Global South. Rapid urbanization and increased uptake of disposable hygiene products have outpaced the development of adequate waste management systems, leaving AHPs largely unsegregated, untreated, and unmanaged. This mini-review synthesizes contemporary literature from the Global South to explore the 'costs' associated with three common mismanagement scenarios: co-disposal with household waste, management outside formal systems, and non-management in the environment. Findings reveal that while the spaces of mismanagement are well documented, the costs remain poorly understood, unevenly distributed and often hidden. Co-disposal exacerbates landfill overcapacity, cross-contamination and greenhouse gas emissions; disposal outside waste systems burdens sanitation networks with blockages and infrastructure damage; and non-management disperses risks into public domains, contaminating soils and waterways, shortening pit latrine lifespans and compounding health hazards for households and sanitation workers. Across contexts, these costs are borne disproportionately by vulnerable groups, including women, children, animals, informal waste workers and low-income households, yet remain largely absent from policy debates and product life cycle assessments. Addressing these gaps requires more context-specific case studies, quantification of costs and greater recognition of disposal within sustainability frameworks to ensure equitable and effective interventions.