Kevin Claffy (Courtesy of Cortech)
In late 2023, a state-run forensic hospital approached Cortech, a molded furniture manufacturer based in Willowbrook, Ill., on the facility’s need for safer product for trash disposal. A key problem the facility faced was patients being able to access the plastic trash bag or discarded waste inside to cause harm to themselves or others, including staff. “If a patient can access the plastic trash bag, there is a suffocation risk,” says Kevin Claffy, behavioral health director and associate product designer at Cortech.
As a result, Claffy says that many behavioral health facilities avoid using waste containers and instead create workarounds. “They use paper bags, plastic bags with holes punched in them, or no bag at all, leaving staff to collect trash by hand,” he says.
During research to guide product development, the company also talked with emergency departments (ED), which shared another problem related to trash disposal in healthcare facilities: contraband left in trashcans. “We heard directly from one county-run medical center that had two incidents in which patients entering the ED discarded firearms in trash receptacles, which were only discovered when another patient found them,” he adds.
Cortech’s SafeBin addresses these issues with a tamper-resistant design that blocks access to the trash bag and secures anything placed inside until staff unlock the unit. Additionally, the waste disposal solution is ligature-resistant and able to be secured to the floor or wall.
The research behind the product design and its potential applications outside of behavioral health caught jurors’ attention in the 2025 Nightingale Awards, earning SafeBin a Gold Award in the Storage & Accessories category and the Best of Innovation Award, which was presented at the Healthcare Design Conference + Expo, held Oct. 25-28 in Kansas City, Mo.
Here, Cortech’s Claffy, a leader on the SafeBin development team, shares how the team approached product development and some of the key design considerations.
Healthcare Design: What was the first step in designing a better waste bin for behavioral healthcare environments?
Kevin Claffy: We started by asking a simple question: Why hasn’t anyone solved this yet? From there, we built simple mock-ups, brought them into real behavioral health settings, and listened to the people who deal with this problem every day. That feedback guided every change we made.
We focused on the interactions that matter most, like how waste goes in, how the interior bin is removed, and how to keep the plastic trash bag completely out of reach. The mindset was straightforward: Remove the risk, keep it simple for staff, and build something that works every time.
HCD: Explain some of the key safety features of SafeBin.
Claffy: Every part of the design is focused on preventing tampering and limiting access. The chute blocks hands from reaching the interior bin or the plastic trash bag, and the lock opens with a single master key so staff can service it quickly. The outer body can be secured to the wall or floor, and there are no loose parts or features that can be pulled off or misused. It functions like a simple waste bin but is built with the same risk-reduction principles used in behavioral health furniture.
By giving teams a dedicated, secure way to handle everyday waste, SafeBin helps create a calmer and more controlled environment for everyone. SafeBin is also flame-retardant, and the secure door hinges smoothly and safely without the use of traditional metal hinges.
HCD: What other factors did you consider in the design of the product?
Claffy: It was important that SafeBin did not draw attention to itself. Behavioral health units are working hard to create calmer, more comfortable spaces, and a loud or institutional-looking bin would work against that. At the same time, it needed to look like a normal trash can, so it fit naturally into the room and didn’t confuse patients or staff.
We kept the shape simple, softened the edges, and used a neutral form so it blends in while still being immediately recognizable for its purpose. SafeBin can also be manufactured in multiple colors to integrate smoothly into the surrounding built environment.
HCD: Do you see this product application beyond behavioral health settings?
Claffy: SafeBin can support any area where patients may be confused, impulsive, or likely to tamper with equipment. Emergency departments, detox units, and memory care all face similar challenges with waste handling. In these settings, keeping the trash bag out of reach and having a secure, easy-to-service bin helps staff maintain control of the environment.
Robert McCune is senior editor of Healthcare Design and can be reached at [email protected].
