Terrylynn's AH HA MOMENTS - Did you know that Americans could save more than 400,000 trees if every family bought a roll of recycled toilet paper JUST ONCE?

WHAT CAN YOU DO?  Buy a roll instead of your regular toilet paper.

Toilet Paper - What's all the fuss about toilet paper?

A recent article from the Washington Post says that it's a menace, an example of America's excess.  Well I don't know about you but most people are not yet ready to give it up.  SO what can we do?  Well there are some new data that gives options about saving money on toilet paper and perhaps making wiser choices in the process. 

Real Simple magazine November 09 issue talks about the cost of toilet paper.  Remember the surveys asking consumers about going green and using sustainable products show that people are willing to go green and make better choices but that saving money is a huge motivator toward that effort. 

A brief cost comparison of an Ultra Plush Toilet paper is that per 100 sheets it costs .48 cents.  The double ply plush is .90 cents per 100 sheets.  An alternate brand of Ultra soft is .63 cents per 100 sheets.   BUT Seventh Generation 100% recycled is .28 cents per 100 sheets.  For the at home family buying only 5% actually buy the recycled product.  What does all this mean?

Plush U.S. toilet paper is usually made by chopping down and grinding up trees that were sometimes decades or even a century old.  It's slow going getting Americans and Europeans to make the switch to recycled goods.  The largest tissue maker has signed a truce and promises to do better.  But the larger battle goes on - the ultimate test is whether Americans and Europeans will go green when nobody is watching.  The consumer wants softer paper, the environmentalists say "it's only toilet paper".  

Market Research, Inc states that the three ply toilet paper sold 24 million packages in the past year, bringing in more than $144 million in revenues.  Earlier this year, Consumer Reports did studies that tested toilet paper brands ultra plys and the recycled and the recycled were noted to be "not unpleasant".  But the three plys win out getting the highest rating.  SO, what to do?  Well, give a try to recycled paper when you have the opportunity, see if it's palatable and perhaps we'll realistically end up with the 40 or 50% recycled that will be the answer.  For environmentalists that may not be enough, but as far as small steps to move the consumer in the right direction, it just might be an answer.  But of course, that's just my opinion. 

For a website with more information and a link to a downloadable guide to purchasing recycled toilet paper and tissue click http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/forests/tissueguide

This is the link straight to the guide which is printable to distribute to clients, friends and family http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/usa/press-center/reports4/tissueguide.pdf

Here is a website with special pricing on recycled toilet papers... http://www.bizrate.com/cleaning-supplies/marcal-toilet-paper     

- Terrylynn has been a Realtor in Contra Costa County for over 32 years.  She works with Diablo Realty in Walnut Creek and is consistently a top producer.  Terrylynn is a local expert, please contact her for any Real Estate needs, or with a question about the area.