This challenge will be all about focusing on the bathroom starting with toilet paper. Is the deforestation of ancient forests worth cushy, quilted toilet paper for….well, you know what we do with toilet paper? This kind of toilet paper requires the fiber from standing trees to get its plush texture so it cannot be made from recycled sources. And of all things that should be made from recycled sources, shouldn’t our toilet paper?
Switching to recycled toilet paper brands such as Marcal is such an easy thing to do for the planet. And not at all a small thing. Not only are the trees and transportation of them saved, but the more that recycled toilet paper is demanded, the more of a market there will be for the stores of paper waste that right now sits in warehouses since the economic turndown has decreased the demand of recyclables.
Another wonderful toilet habit to instill is reusing water from your shower to flush your toilet. The world has precious little clean drinking water, and we are lucky enough to have it readily at our tap. The fact that most of this water gets flushed down the toilet is a sin when you think about how many millions of people do not have any to drink.
Well, not to make you feel bad…. it’s ok to use what you need, but not waste. One way to help this is to keep a bucket in the shower that gets filled when you wait for the water to be heated. Just keep a nice, clean bucket in the shower and when you flush, put it in the tank (not the bowl).
And of course, keep your showers to three minutes and do not run the water while brushing your teeth or shaving. Keep a cup in the bathroom for rinsing after you brush.
Remember: It’s not about depriving yourself of anything, but just being mindful of not wasting unnecessarily.
