Nairobi — Two companies are fighting for control of bins used for the disposal of sanitary towels.

In an application before Lady Justice Pamela Mwilu Wednesday, Sanitam Services, also known as Professional Clean Care, wants Hygiene Bins barred from engaging in the disposal bins business.

Besides calling for the destruction of all sanitary bins patented as AP773 or all bins owned by Hygiene, Sanitam also accuses its rival of supplying bins identical to those it has patented.

Sanitam told Lady Justice Mwilu Wednesday that the company, registered in Kenya and in 1997, designed and invented a foot-operated litter and sanitary disposal bin for the storage and disposal of sanitary towels, tampons, surgical dressings, serviettes and other waste materials.

The company made an application to the African Regional Industrial Property Offices (ARIPO) for registration, which was granted on October 15, 1999 and a patent certificate number AP773 was issued.

Thereafter, Sanitam says, Hygiene Bins started making and supplying similar bins.

Hygiene disputed the claims, saying its bins are products of Calfarme of Singapore and Emmatec of Malaysia.

The company further claimed that Calfarme is a reputable manufacturer and supplier of sanitary towels the world over with two trademarks, Pedalbin and Ladybin, which have been in use for 25 years.

Hygiene accused Sanitam of harassing companies dealing in sanitary bins on the pretext of patent infringement.

The Judge is expected deliver her judgment in the case on June 19.