Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Paper Towel Calculator: How Much Waste Could You Save?
Explore the impact of choosing paper towels as the only hand drying option for your washrooms.
You can read our full guide into the pros and cons of hand dryers v.s. paper towels, but here we will present some facts about the sheer amount of waste produced by choosing only paper towel dispensers.
To get started, select your business type from the list below, or enter the exact number of paper towel dispensers if you know the number:
Step 1: Select your business type from the list
Café
Small Restaurant/Bar
Medium Restaurant/Bar
Nightclub
Small office (1-10 staff)
Medium Office (11-30 staff)
Large Office (30+staff)
Primary School
High School / University
Library
Shopping Centre
Airport
Stadium
Step 2: Select the exact number of paper towel dispensers
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
3
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
5
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
10
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
15
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
3
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
7
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
15
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
12
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
18
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
3
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
200
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
100
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Estimated Number Of Paper Towel Dispensers:
300
Or
Input number of paper towel dispensers in your premises:
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Cookers sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Cookers sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Cookers sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Ford Fusion Cars sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Office Chairs sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Office Chairs sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Office Chairs sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
School Benches sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Large Vending machines sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Office Chairs sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Asian Elephants sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
20kg Suitcases sent to landfill each year
Amount of lbs waste per paper towel dispenser* per year:
160
Total lbs of paper towel waste* from your business:
This is equivalent of:
Asian Elephants sent to landfill each year
*OUR CALCULATIONS ARE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:
One paper towel dispenser sends 160kg of waste to landfill each year.
This is based on 40,000 washes per year, with each wash using 2 paper towels that weigh 2 grams each.
This equates to 110 washes using 220 paper towels per day.
How Does the Paper Towel Calculator Work?
The paper towel calculator provides facilities with a simple way to estimate how much paper towel waste their washrooms could generate over a year. Select a business type to start with an estimated number of dispensers or enter the actual number of paper towel dispensers in your premises for a result that better reflects your facility.
The calculation assumes that each dispenser supports 40,000 hand washes per year, with two paper towels weighing 2 grams each used per wash. Based on those assumptions, one dispenser can account for 160kg of paper towel waste annually. Actual paper towel consumption can vary depending on washroom traffic, how many towels people use, operating hours, towel size, and absorbency.
Facilities that want a more tailored estimate can also track actual usage over time. One simple approach is to monitor paper towel consumption for one week and multiply that figure by 4.3 to estimate monthly usage. For periods when traffic is less predictable, facilities may also choose to build in a 10% to 20% buffer when planning supply needs.
How Much Paper Towel Waste Can a Facility Produce?
Paper towel waste can add up quickly when multiple dispensers serve busy washrooms. An office with a relatively small number of users, for example, will generally have different consumption patterns from an airport, shopping centre, stadium, school, or busy restaurant.
Daily towel needs can also be estimated using the number of people using the facility, their typical usage rate, and the number of hand-drying or cleaning events. This can help facility managers compare the calculator estimate with actual on-site demand, particularly in high-traffic locations where usage can change significantly throughout the day or year.
Paper towels also create ongoing operational requirements beyond the initial purchase. Facilities need to store supplies, refill dispensers, empty bins, and manage the resulting waste. For procurement planning, cost per use can be estimated by dividing the purchase price by the total number of sheets. This can help facilities assess paper towel consumption alongside waste and ongoing operating requirements.
Hand Dryers vs Paper Towels for Busy Facilities
When comparing hand dryers vs paper towels, waste is only one factor to consider. Facility managers may also assess ongoing costs, maintenance requirements, user experience, accessibility, drying speed, energy consumption, and the demands placed on cleaning teams.
Touch-free electric hand dryers eliminate the need to continually replenish paper towels and remove used towels from washrooms. Airdri’s hand dryer range includes models designed for different types of facilities, including offices, restaurants, schools, shopping centres, airports, and sports stadiums. Airdri hand dryers use automatic no-touch activation and are engineered with energy efficiency, reliability, and straightforward maintenance in mind.
Use Your Estimate to Review Your Washroom Setup
A paper towel waste calculator is best used as a planning tool rather than an exact prediction. Your facility’s actual results will depend on foot traffic, washroom habits, the number of dispensers, towel characteristics, and how frequently each washroom is used.
Once you understand the potential volume of paper towel waste, you can compare that result with the operational needs of other drying methods. Facilities considering an alternative can use Airdri’s hand dryer selection tool to explore models based on their industry and washroom requirements.
Reviewing waste alongside energy use, maintenance, accessibility, traffic levels, purchasing costs, and long-term operating requirements can help facility managers choose the most suitable hand-drying setup for each location.