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<p>The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities manages Building Regulations
and Approved Documents for provision of toilets in publicly accessible buildings,
but powers in the Building Act 1984 and the Building Regulations 2010 cannot require
sanitary bins in men’s toilets. Defra oversees policy and legislation with respect
to the safe management of waste and of litter. However, Defra has no powers to compel
the provision of sanitary bins as the maintenance of public toilets is usually a matter
for the relevant local authority, and I would encourage the hon. Member to raise the
issue locally. Councils have a duty to make arrangements for the regular emptying
and cleansing of any litter bins that they provide or maintain. They also have the
power to clean and empty litter bins provided in any street or public place. The emptying
of litter bins must be sufficiently frequent to ensure that no such litter bin or
its contents becomes a nuisance or gives reasonable grounds for complaint.</p><p>
</p><p>Where public sanitary bins are provided in local authority provided toilets,
the relevant local authority must ensure that bins are managed in accordance with
the relevant waste legislation, including the Waste Duty of Care, and are responsible
for the maintenance and repair of public toilets. Sewer blockages can lead to flooding
inside homes and businesses and are expensive to clear. There are measures in current
water industry legislation to protect drains and sewers from damage due to misuse
including pouring damaging substances down drains and sewers. Damaging these infrastructures
is an offence punishable by a fine or, in more serious cases, imprisonment for a maximum
of two years.</p><p> </p><p>Provision of healthcare services and how they should be
managed is the policy responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care.</p>
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