“Every LITTER bit counts”.
“Please don’t DRAIN our resources.”
You’ve seen these signs all across campus washrooms, complemented by piles of scrunched up paper towels flowing out of the garbage bins. This is especially apparent in places most frequented by students, such as the D.B. Weldon Library.
As suggested by the two phrases, we have to remember to use the paper towels in moderation and to put our waste in its proper place. The play-on-words raises awareness on the significant environmental footprint we are creating by using paper towels.
Despite the environmental detriment, paper towels, which were introduced in anticipation of the H1N1 influenza pandemic, are essential to maintaining the health and safety of staff and students. The balance between environmental diligence and public safety has become one of the underlying issues when evaluating Western’s newly implemented hand drying methods.
Health and safety is the top priority of the university. The decision to introduce paper towels on campus last spring came from a recommendation from the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) regarding ways to slow the spread of the H1N1 influenza.
The approximately $20,000 paper towel installation consists of all non-residential buildings on campus. With about 650 washrooms in the academic buildings alone, averaging two dispensers per washroom, we have consumed 20,940 rolls of non-recyclable paper towels from May 1, 2009 to Feb. 28, 2010.
In all, 12,420 of these rolls were part of the pandemic preparations between Sept. 1, 2009 and Dec. 24, 2009.
The paper towels we use on campus are made up of 100 per cent recycled paper with a minimum of 40 per cent post-consumer waste. By opting for a recycled product, the used towels are non-recyclable themselves because the paper fibres are too short to be accepted by the paper mills. The paper towels go to landfills.
According to a recent report from MLHU, there has not been a single lab-confirmed report of influenza in 2010. After a peak in reported incidents in October 2009, evidence of the H1N1 virus steadily declined by December 2009.
That said, seasonal viruses are constantly changing and circulating in our atmosphere. Currently, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus is circulating and we can help prevent the spread with the assistance of paper towels and soap. MLHU heavily advocates this three-step procedure of hand washing to reduce the spread of bacteria. The literature in campus washrooms establishes paper towels as a critical step in proper hand washing. However, it is essential to consume moderately. Using one perforated sheet per hand wash should suffice.
Through moderation we can achieve the goals of preventing the spread of disease and helping to reduce waste. Where both hand dryers and paper towels are available, most people will opt for paper towels since they do the job more efficiently.
One initiative to consider is to have fewer paper towels per washroom during seasons of low influenza activity and during the summer term when the student population is significantly reduced. Since there is an average of two dispensers per washroom, perhaps only one of the two could be restocked during low demand.
While the top priority remains health and safety, the environment is always a critical issue. The posted signs serve as a good visual reminder to put our waste in its proper place, but the key message here is moderation. We need paper towels to control the spread of viruses, but in doing so, we have to remember to use only what we really need.
The writer is a communications intern with Physical Plant & Capital Planning Services.