Simple Green: Recycled Toilet Paper

We're betting your first thought is "ewww..." After you get over your skiivies, stop and think. According to Molly Roemer, LA City editor of green blog site IdealBite, as quoted in Angeleno magazine, "While people have no problem using recycled paper towels [although we hope you've cut down on paper towel use of any kind], they still have a problem wiping their bums with recycled toilet paper... "

The statistics are hard to beat. According to the National Resources Defense Council, if every household in the United States replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper (500 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 423,900 trees. Stop for a minute and think of how many rolls you use in a year. Now, get over the ick factor.

[Image via Emdot's Flickr, with a Creative Commons License]

Comments (28)

Am I missing something? I don't get the ick factor. They're recycled, not used. And not from old toilet paper, from other paper products, in the same way paper towels are. So, what you use to dry your hands isn't good enough to wipe your ass? People are just plain stupid sometimes.

I don't think there's any ick factor if you realize that recycled toilet paper is not made from old toilet paper.

I agree with amt230. I don't know much about the recycling process, but it seems to me that recycled toilet paper is made by recycling non-TP paper products. I've been buying recycled toilet paper for a while and never even gave it a second thought.

Most of us in urban areas drink and/or cook with treated sewage water. If you can handle that, you can handle recycled tp.

Didn't we just cover this recently? The ick factor is silly, yes, but they're going to have to make it softer before I start buying it.

Recycled toilet paper is a staple in my house. Seventh Generation is great.

Ditto with what everyone is saying: I don't get it either, I always buy recycled toilet paper.
Anyway it couldn't be made from recycled TP, just think a moment to what happens to TP once used! Unless somewhere on earth they've got special containers or... ok ok I'll stop before it gets gross.

I realize we are dealing with a subset of people who think they have to wash their sponges out every 15 seconds, but puh-leeze. I have been buying 7th Generation toilet paper for years and I don't have any cooties yet. If you're an Amazon Prime member you can get a case of it shipped to you FREE. That's frugal and green!

Sorry, I meant the shipping was free, not the case....I'm drinking a big gin and tonic...what can I say, it's HOT.

What is the ick factor? Oh....she lives in LA.

Oh yes, I used recycled toilet paper once, got a horrible infection, and ended up in the hospital for a week. (sorry, I couldn't resist)

I use recycled. Wouldn't think of buying other. There is no ick factor.

I use 7th generation recycled TP. It's kind of scratchy, but it's definitely not gross.

Well I'm glad to see that at least everyone on here is intelligent enough to realize that there is no ick factor with this product. People hear "recycled" and "toilet" and that's all they focus on. As they say down south, "Well bless their heart", which is a nice way of saying, "God help them".

I also don't get it. I mean, it's recycled paper, not recycled shit.

i've never heard of anyone having a problem with recycled material in TP. are the editors just reaching for an angle for this post?

it is really scratchy, but i get it sometimes.

So we're in agreement that there's no ick factor? Good. Honestly, I can't imagine anyone who would really think there was.

It's what I buy when it's my turn and I prefer it. The soft stuff my roommate gets is too cushy and smooth.

I used to try to talk my friends into using 7th Generation, but mostly got "EWWWWWWW" responses.

Eventually I gave it up myself, because, um, scratchy. If they can make it softer, I'll go for it.

I dislike extra soft TP as it's "linty", and don't mind that recycled TP tends to be a bit scratchy. I think it cleans better as it has "traction".....Some of it's so scratchy that perhaps it "exfoliates", too.........LOL!

Hmmm...I don't even use TP I use cloth. So my toilet paper is reused again and again and again...always washed of course! I try not to tell many people this in real life because I always hear "ew!"

I have been buying 7th Generation toilet paper for years and I don't have any cooties yet.

Charlotte, you have me ROFL. Pass me the gin, gf.

Modern Guy totally sums up the southern method of identifying fools of every kind.

LOL, maureen: Traction and Exfoliation

This is well timed. After a lifetime of using Scott Tissue I bought some 365 brand recycled TP last week when I was out. So far so good, but I have my usual complaint for any TP that isn't Scott: It runs out so quickly! Are there any big rolls of recycled TP? It's half the size of a roll of Scott. I always refused the padded, quilted or soft TP for the same reason.

I started buying recycled toilet paper and it never bothered me one bit. It bothered my fiance at first because he didn't think it was soft enough but i think he's getting on board about trying to help our planet. If you're gonna waste something like Toilet paper why not at least help the planet a little bit while you're doing it.

I've been using 7th Generation for about a year now. It does run out kinda quickly but it's made me realize that I use more than what's necessary. I did try the 365 brand kind but my butt prefers 7th Gen.

I don't think "skiivies" is a word. Isn't it skivvies? And, why are we being told to get over our underwear?

Like others, I don't get the ick factor. Is it really better to wipe with paper that's been crazy bleached?
TJ's TP is cheaper than 7th Gen, but not as soft, and it's 100% recycled.

katedet, try Marcal! they're recycled as well, last a bit, and cost heaps less than 7th Generation!