Toilet issues

This one is only a little bit plastic related but I see it as a big, huge, gigantic chunk on waste that we don't often think about. 

Toilet roll.

A lot of it is freshly made paper, many that say they are recycled are only using a percentage of recycled materials, and pretty much all of them come all wrapped up in our old friend plastic. Plus then the fact that it's all paper down the toilet. So what do I do about this?

I found a zero waste solution is to use something they call 'family cloth'. Pretty much what it sounds like. Sections of re-purposed fabric to wipe with, drop them in a bucket and then wash them. I saw a suggestion of filling the bucket with vinegar to combat the smell, but I still can't imagine it would be a great odour.

Well hats off to you if you can do the family cloth thing because it really does seem like a great zero waste solution, but for me? NOOOOOO! I am not willing to have poo rags hanging around and messing with them to throw them in the washer? Nope!

So then we have what a lovely fella I knew referred to as a 'bum gun'. He was an interesting sort, but what he meant was a bidet. We really should have more of these things, very eco friendly and hygienic. I thought they would be really costly but you can actually get a basic kit on Ebay starting at about £7 on the super cheap end. They are meant to be very easy to fit yourself too, but looking at my toilet pipes I'm not sure. I can be quite handy but I have never really had a play with plumbing before. Some are simple little things that fit in the back of the toilet that squirt you and others are like a mini hand held shower head that hooks up next to the toilet. No paper needed and always freshly washed bits.

There is also another option. One that lands between the others. A company I found very charmingly called Who Gives A Crap? They produce toilet paper that is 100% recycled material, packaged in recycled paper and not plastic, and 50% of the company profit goes to helping build toilets for those who really need them to reduce the spread of disease. Is it affordable? Well, the best value option they advertise is 48 rolls for £36, working out to 75p per roll. Not the cheapest but very, very ethical for loo roll.

So personally I'm going with the 'bum gun' as the best option but dare I go for it, get one and try messing about with the pipes? Watch this space.