Counting What I Did Not Use

Today is the day! Today marks ONE YEAR since I started counting paper towels that I did NOT use. One year ago I saw a link on Facebook. It took me to a video of a guy showing how to wash one's hands and use only one paper towel for drying. I thought to myself that I should give it a try. Here is an approximation of my previous method:



I liked to pamper myself and use a lot of towels and get really DRY!

Then I saw that video, and decided I should quit being selfish with paper towels, and I should try to conserve the world's resources. So last year, on May 30, 2012, I started counting paper towels that I did NOT use. Figuring that I was accustomed to regularly using three paper towels per hand washing, I cut it down to one paper towel and started counting the two that I did not use each time. I kept this count when I washed my hands any place where paper towels are used. Mostly this was at work, but also at church, a hospital, a restaurant, or any place I happened to go and wash and dry my hands using paper towels.

I'll admit, I wasn't perfect. Sometimes, if they use particularly feeble paper towels, I let myself use two or even three. Then I just wouldn't have any to count.. but overall I did a good job of keeping it to only one paper towel per hand wash.

I kept an eye out for the maintenance people at my work building. I wanted to ask them how many paper towels are in one package that they insert into the machine. They look similar to this (not exactly, but close). Wouldn't you know... I see them frequently, but have seen NO hint of them anywhere near my office door or the restroom door in the last month when I've been wanting to ask. I'm assuming, however, that I saved approximately the equivalent of one of these packages.



Now.. what if everyone in my office did the same thing? There are about 130 people who work in my office, most of us part time, coming and going 24/7.. if each of us saved one package of paper towels per year... think of the trees we would save!! Maybe they aren't as overly consumptive of paper towels like I used to be. But we could still make a dent, don't you think?

So.. guess what my final count is... here goes.... in one year I managed to NOT use (thereby save) 426 paper towels!!! I'm proud of myself and intend to keep on conserving, and hope to save a package of paper towels per year. As long as I keep working at my current job, it's possible.

Won't you join me in saving the world's resources in this small, easy way?

OH... and ANOTHER BIG THING ABOUT TODAY -- IT'S MY SISTER'S BIRTHDAY!!!! Happy Birthday, M! I celebrated your birthday by NOT using 426 paper towels!!