By: Yasmin Hassan, Staff Writer
If you’ve walked into a campus washroom lately, you’ve probably seen an empty paper towel dispenser with a note that says, “SFU is phasing out paper towel use on campus washrooms” and directs you to use “energy efficient hand dryers.” I used to have no problem using hand dryers, until I learned just how inferior they are in regards to hygiene compared to paper towels. And while SFU says they aim “to reduce waste” and “greenhouse gas emissions,” the reality is SFU is cutting costs due to their layoffs of precarious cleaning staff.
SFU’s commitment to waste reduction states compost, where paper towels end up, is sent to Net Zero Waste Eastgate in North Vancouver. Composting does produce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions which are harmful to the environment, and SFU also mentioned that plumbing issues from pipes being clogged reportedly cost them $250,000 in 2023. However, SFU is infamous for cutting costs where they want to, often not where needed. Just this April, they announced they would be reducing custodial services to reduce expenses. They choose to cut corners on a basic necessity, treating contract workers as disposable. SFU cuts down on facility services while continuing to invest in global military contractors like Booz Allen Hamilton and CAE. That’s also not to mention the generous salaries of the president and board directors which further begs the question: is this just a convenient excuse for them to save money for themselves?
Hand dryers are unhygienic and inefficient at their sole purpose, no matter how much cheaper and low maintenance they are to maintain.
When there’s airborne particles of all kinds from every orifice of the human body in a confined space, dryers are bacteria breeding grounds. Dyson hand dryers are equipped with HEPA — high efficiency particulate air — air filters, which help reduce bacteria transmission. However, SFU also uses older hand dryers in some areas, which don’t have these filters. A study done by the American Society for Microbiology states that of the 70 bacteria colonies collected from hot air hand dryers in public washrooms, “62 identified bacteria represented 21 species, with a wide variety of environmental bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus,” which causes various clinical diseases. Even though single washrooms for disabled folks will continue to have paper towels, there are too few of them on campus. Paper towels should be available everywhere to aid immunocompromised and disabled folks from contracting airborne viruses, and prevent anyone from contracting Long Covid on a campus belonging to approximately 37,000 students.
Hand dryers are unhygienic and inefficient at their sole purpose, no matter how much cheaper and easier they are to maintain. While air dryers can reduce staffing time because there’s less need to maintain supply, we’re trading off our hygiene in return.
SFU should consult members of the community as well as their cleaning staff, and be more public about such changes besides ominously-pasted signs on barren paper towel dispensers. They should also aim to institutionalize masks to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other easily spreadable illnesses.
Above all else, taking care of workers is vital to campus life. Whatever SFU does to cut down on labour demands, cleaning staff are vital to a safe campus. Contract Worker Justice has been pushing for SFU to hire their contract custodial workers as in-house staff and released a report in 2022 detailing their unfair working conditions. Paying workers fairly and ensuring working conditions are fair should reflect in the well-being of the school and its inhabitants.
