How to user a paper towel is — by far — the most influential talk I’ve ever seen.
- 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used by Americans every year.
- If we could reduce the usage of paper towels — one paper towel, per person, per day — 571,230,000 pounds of paper will not be used.
We live in a world where garbage is so abstracted away from us. It is difficult to comprehend what happens to our waste after we toss it in the trash can, and how much of it ends up sitting in a landfill.
The tip is simple. Shake off excess water and fold the paper towel in half (allowing interstitial suspension) before drying your hands with it. I saw this talk sometime in 2013 and have been using this tip ever since. It’s a small and easy thing to do to reduce waste and be mindful of it.