Hand Dryers Have Been Getting a Bad Wrap
Hand air dryers are better for the environment and cheaper to maintain, so why are paper towels still offered in public restrooms? Apparently, in some cases the use of air dryers has been discouraged due to reports that they can be breeding grounds for bacteria. But are they? According to the New York Times, studies that warn against using air dryers tend to be financed by…wait for it…the paper industry!
If you’re not convinced, try not to see the paper towel as your saving grace. Germs aside for a moment, paper towels spell much more trouble for the environment that electric hand dryers: Air dryers use fewer resources than paper towels over their life. One will last about ten years, and even when factoring in the energy they consume every time wet hands activate the blower, compared to paper towels they use significantly less energy as well as less raw material. And they produce no waste…until the end of their lifespan, after which most components can be recycled.
If your still not convinced, here’s an idea: forget about the air dryer and the paper towels and wipe those wet hands on your jacket or pants. This act may be a tad unrefined by Emily Post’s standards, but Mother Earth grades differently, and she would find this a real class act.
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