The idea that Fagersta should offer free menstrual protection in its municipal toilets began as a letter to the municipal board from the municipal councilor Marino Wallsten (S) and the chairman of the municipal council Åsa-Märta Sjöström (S).
In June last year, a unanimous municipal board decided that this should be introduced and now the first containers are inaugurated.
- It is an incredibly important gender equality issue.
Just as we have toilet paper, paper towels and soap in municipal toilets, we must also have menstrual protection, says Åsa-Märta Sjöström (S) who was on site to inaugurate Brinellskolan's first menstrual protection container together with Marino Wallsten.
Starting with the schools
Fagersta municipality has set aside SEK 250,000 for the purchase and start-up of 100 containers to begin with.
- We have chosen to start where we see that the need is greatest - the schools.
Then we will gradually equip more and more toilets, says Marino Wallsten (S), municipal councilor.
- What is difficult is to predict what this will cost on an annual basis, so part of the initial stage will be to follow the development to see what the actual consumption is.
It will give us a basis for setting the right budget level going forward, because this should be part of the fixed budget in that we see this as an obvious part that should only exist.
First in Västmanland
Fagersta will be the first municipality in Västmanland to offer free menstrual protection in municipal toilets.
The neighboring municipality of Smedjebacken has been the first municipality in the country to offer free menstrual protection since August 2021.
The cost there, to install about 500 containers, landed at about 200,000 kronor and the consumption cost has been calculated at about 40,000 kronor per half year for all the containers.
But then you have to remember that the pandemic and homework probably affected consumption.
In the clip: "Feels more equal" - join Brinellskolan where students Vera, Matilda and Jerusalem like that the containers are here.