The Red, White, and Green

Photo via Flickr: Brandi666

When I was on the East Coast last week, I realized something was missing from nearly every public bathroom I visited: toilet seat covers. “Yeah, I think it’s a West Coast thing,” lamented my slightly germ-phobic cousin, who exclaimed that she hadn’t seen a single one since touching down at JFK.

Now, I suppose I’ve become a bit pampered since moving to the West Coast. Los Angeles has a level of cleanliness in most public places that New Yorkers could only dream of, what with its letter grading health code system that lets me undauntingly dine in even the diviest-looking East LA taco joint. (I can only say this, of course, because I’m a former New Yorker.) I had forgotten until this recent visit that even nice restaurants in NYC often have repulsive bathrooms.

I do feel guilty about using those toilet seat covers on occasion. I’m not sure anyone’s bum is worth all those trees. But what about the consequences of squatting and potentially spraying all over the seat, and then having to wipe it down with extra toilet paper as a courtesy to the next bathroom-goer? I figure I’m wasting less paper by sticking with the seat cover.

I’m back in LA now, and lo and behold — a pleasant surprise to alleviate my green guilt (and possibly yours): As I walked into a public restroom today, I glanced at the custodian’s cart  placed outside the bathroom, which was stocked with packages of toilet seat covers from The Sugar Cane Paper Company. Evidently, the company manufacturers its paper products from recycled sugar cane bagasse, which is the fibrous residue left over after sugar extraction. That’s right — no trees harmed in the process. Happy sitting!

–Jennifer Grayson

Do this now: Work in an office where there are paper toilet seat covers in the bathroom? Put in a request with the building’s management to order eco-friendly ones.

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