Hand Drier -vs- Paper Towels

SuperMum2008

Was sitting thinking earlier today (no prizes for guessing where!)....

":rolleyes:when I have finished using the facilities, is it more energy efficient/cost efficient to dry my hands using the hand drier, or paper towels? :rolleyes:"

Anyone ever worked this out?!

orc_2

A quick google will give some results, mainly from the point of view of hand drier manufacturers. It appears to have its own little industry!!

From that, they say the cost of paper towels is more expensive, financially- substantially so, but then they would say that, wouldn't they?? I won't post a link as its to a commercial site.

I am less sure about the environmental costs, but would have thought that the process of paper towel manufacture, collecting waste paper- sorting & processing etc inc transport and eventual disposal are more than the environmental cost process of manufacturing a hand drier and the electricity it consumes when used.

Miss_Ratty

I asked this question to my eco-friend a while back, and it seems that its paper all the way! To be green, you can use 100% recycled paper towels (I found a website that sold ones ages ago and the company was carbon-neutral - although you may have your own opinions about that!). Hygenically they win hands down, and myself and my eco-warrior friend stick our in the wormery afterwards and it gets turned into lovely compost at the end!

Miss_Ratty

I found this too... http://www.greenyour.com/node/14054?subject=1269

SuperMum2008

Thanks guys, all v interesting, but seems as if we have conflicting views already!! Think I need to do some more research.

A_fiend_for_life

Shake your hands and dab them on your trousers or rub your hands together.

orc_2

Miss_Ratty wrote: »

I asked this question to my eco-friend a while back, and it seems that its paper all the way! To be green, you can use 100% recycled paper towels (I found a website that sold ones ages ago and the company was carbon-neutral - although you may have your own opinions about that!). Hygenically they win hands down, and myself and my eco-warrior friend stick our in the wormery afterwards and it gets turned into lovely compost at the end!

Not entirely convinced of this, as paper towels need to be taken from dispenser (contact and potential for germs) and then disposed of in a bin- potential for germs again depending on cleaning regime.

I can see where you are coming from re recycled towels but just consider all the carbon expended in getting the towels to point of use.

If an energy efficient drier was used, eg Dyson, it uses less electricity and the electricity could be sourced through a green tariff.

Lancastrian

I couldn't care less which is best for the environment. I want a piece of paper to open the toilet door after the dirty wretches who don't wash their hands when coming straight out of a cubicle. What were they shaking just before they left? Cup of tea anyone?

Miss_Ratty

You might not agree hygiene-wise, but hospitals and lab-workers can't use handriers because of the risk of infection.

triticale

Lancastrian wrote: »

I couldn't care less which is best for the environment. I want a piece of paper to open the toilet door after the dirty wretches who don't wash their hands when coming straight out of a cubicle. What were they shaking just before they left? Cup of tea anyone?

And why do most public toilet main doors have to be PULLED open from the inside?!?! :mad:

I've just meticulously washed and dried my mitts, now I have to grab and pull some grotty metal handle that's covered in whatever kind of ming the last non-handwashing skank had on their paws!!! Ugh.

thescouselander

I don't use either. If you give your hands a good shake the remaining water dries out in about 30 seconds.