By Holly Bull
Anyone using the PPCC restrooms has noticed that they no longer have the choice between paper towels and the hand dryer. They may also have noticed the green signs where the paper towel dispensers used to be that read, “PPCC is going green.” This may have left them pondering as to why PPCC is going green. Dr. Kinkel, PPCC President explains the four reasons involved in this decision.
The first, PPCC is making a commitment to reduce environmental degradation. It is obvious that paper towels produce solid waste and kill trees. What students may not have realized is that the trash bags used to contain these paper towels are petroleum based. Several trash bags per day per bathroom were being used. So, not only is PPCC saving paper towels, but petroleum as well.
The second reason, according to Kinkel, is to help maintain cost. PPCC will save $20,000 per year by no longer using paper towels. Some students may feel that they are being cheated, that they pay good money to go to school at PPCC and they want their paper towels. Well, the money saved is going back into the school. And will be reinvested into hiring another maintenance person to help beautify the college.
Reason number three, with the amount of paper towels being used on a daily basis, students and faculty may have noticed the overflowing trash cans. The removal of paper towels not only helps to reduce litter in the bathrooms, but it also reduces labor from time spent cleaning up the mess. Now the janitors will have more time to fix other problems.
The final reason, is this, the removal of paper towels is step one in moving to chemical cleaners. In an e-mail that Dr. Kinkel sent out to staff, he said “chemical cleaners similar to what many hospitals and doctor’s offices are using would require neither touching the water handles nor the door.” If this is the route taken in the future, not only will paper towels be saved, but this would also save on electricity from the hand dryers and water from hand washing, it would also be more sanitary.
Dr. Kinkel feels that PPCC has to save money for the college and the students, for future generations, “I truly believe that the cost of water in Colorado will become a huge issue.” PPCC is currently in the process of analyzing what effect this will have on cost. The removal of paper towels was a calculated decision.
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