Recycling & Reducing: Toilet Paper

One of the ever growing concerns with the environment is how to reduce the use of paper. Now we are all aware of that paper comes from trees and essentially is used just for about everything. Paper is recyclable and one of the more recycled items out there. However, there is one form of paper that no matter what finds itself ending up as waste. This type of paper being toilet paper, one of human’s most hygienic friends. With the “Green” movement knocking down doors and making its way into consumers home, it is only a matter of time before there are campaigns that fight against the overuse of toilet paper.

Everyone uses toilet paper though, right? These campaigns and efforts won’t be taken serious by people unless they have another viable and just as effective option. This is especially the case with something as important as toilet paper and the collective efforts to maintain a clean hygiene. I mean one can only imagine what a world would be like without toilet paper, but would they be correct? We might find out because whether you are aware of it or not there are campaigns that are heavily against the use of toilet paper. The idea of not using toilet paper is a shocking one, but people around the world are doing it and with newer technologies might not be such a eye opening notion.

A bidet is a cleaner and healthier option and at the same time will save a lot of water and paper. The production alone of a roll of toilet paper uses 1.5 pounds of wood, 37 gallons of water, and 1.3 KWh of electricity. One of the first downsides to perhaps using a bidet is the perception that these devices are designed and priced for a luxurious living. However, the Blue Bidet is around $70 dollars and can be attached to your toilet in under a half hour. There are different models depending on what you are looking for. One is designed as a cold water model that just streams water from the toilet line and one that uses both hot and cold water but may take a longer time to install.

It is hard to promote the total elimination of toilet paper. Instead Blue Bidet is trying to reduce the use by 75% and using the remained to dry yourself off. Although, there are drying systems that can come attached to the bidet that would totally eliminate the use of toilet paper.

The problem of toilet paper is what it is doing to the environment not only with the paper itself but the energy and water that it takes. In one day Americans use 34,000,000 rolls of toilet paper which equals the use of 221,000 trees, 255,000 gallons of water, 88,000,000 pounds of green house gases, and 161,000,000 KWH of electricity.

That right there alone is enough to understand why we have to figure out a way to reduce the use of toilet paper. Not only do we want to keep it from becoming waste and harming our environment like e-waste. We also have to consider what using so much toilet paper could potentially do to the environment.

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One Response to “Recycling & Reducing: Toilet Paper”

  1. Bidet says:

    Great Article… You are absolutely correct, we are using why too much toilet paper and in part, is taking a toll on the environment. I have used a bidet for three years now and it is a much better alternative to toilet paper.

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