What happens to used paper towels after wiping our hands just once? Is there a better solution than sending them to the landfill? For many, these questions are often overlooked. However, the fact is that these everyday disposables generate surprisingly large amounts of landfill waste, with paper being one of the two biggest sources of emissions in landfills.
In gyms alone, paper towels account for up to 90% of waste. In industrial food processing, they make up 10% while in general business waste, they comprise up to 20%. These towels, primarily made from trees, are often used once then discarded. Despite decomposing in landfills, they release harmful methane and carbon emissions that accelerate climate change.