There is a “wrong” way to hang toilet paper?”
“Give me a break”, you say?
Read on.
Why? Because….
According to Current Configuration, the natural curve of the over-hung method allows the roll to stand fast after a one-handed tear, but the under-hung method creates a tendency in the roll. This tendency can only lead to this:
Wasted paper, frustration, the destruction of our forests results when toilet paper roll is hung as under-hung method. In the under-hung method, you are bound to lose eventually, and there is no re-rolling an unwound toilet paper roll. The under-hung method leads to the destruction of our precious resources and the pillars of civilization as we know it!
Apparently, I am onto something because I always re-hang toilet paper when I find them to be hanging the “wrong” way, not only in my own house but in other people’s houses too. And I thought I was just being neurotic…
Some statistics about toilet paper…
- We use 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper in the U.S. each year, this represents at least 15 million trees pulped.
- This also involces 473,587,5000,000 gallons of water to produce the paper
- 253,000 tons of chlorine for bleaching purposes
- The manufacturing process requires about 17.3 terawatts of electricity annually.
- Also, there is the energy and materials involved in packaging and transporting the toilet paper to households across the country.
- Toilet paper also constitutes a significant load on the city sewer systems, and water treatment plants. It also often responsible for clogged pipes.
*source: Treehugger.com
One amusing fact…in 2007, singer/songwriter/environmental activist/producer (The Inconvenient Truth), Sheryl Crow proposed “… a limitation be put on how many squares of toilet paper can be used in any one sitting. Now, I don’t want to rob any law-abiding American of his or her God-given rights, but I think we are an industrious enough people that we can make it work with only one square per restroom visit, except, of course, on those pesky occasions where 2 or 3 could be required. When presenting this idea to my younger brother, whose judgment I trust implicitly, he propose taking it one step further. I believe his quote was, “how bout just washing the one square out.” Seriously.
Now, while I don’t believe in getting involved with peoples’ bathroom habits, I do believe that we can all contribute to lessen the environmental burden involving toilet paper and that is to use recycled toilet paper. Some people believe “virgin toilet paper vs. recycled toilet paper” debate is like the “paper vs. plastic” debate and there are people who go one step further and suggest eliminating toilet paper all together and using a bidet. But until someone can pay for a bathroom expansion to make room for a bidet and install one, never mind trying to convert four common folks in my house to a royalty-like habit of using something so foreign (I must say, bidet is the epitome of “greenwashing”), I’m sticking with my current plan of using recycled toilet paper.
Ironically, I never liked Charmin or Cottonell because, believe it or not, I find them to be too soft and I don’t like all that perfumy smell. But more than that, I am always afraid that the drain will get clogged with all that soft mush. So I always bought one ply – a little stiffer, but just as good – Marcal or Scott’s. And guess what? According to Treehugger.com, once again, I was onto something. Apparently, the soft toilet paper is really bad for the environment. I’ve been using Marcal’s “Small Steps” – company’s newest brand of recycled toilet paper. Of course, there are other brands but I recently bought Marcal brand because it was sale. According to Marcal, “Small Step” line is:
1. from 100% Recycled Paper
2. Whitened without chlorine bleaching
3. Hypoallergenic
4. Virtually Lint Free
5. No Dyes or Fragrance added
6. Septic Safe
7. Individual wrapper is recyclable
So, total elimination of toilet paper in my house might not be an option right now or anywhere in the near future but I’m staying with this brand for now. Now, only if I can get the boys to put down the seat……
Related Links:
NY Times
Guardian
Planet Green
