Tampons and the Environment
People who haven't opened their mind to the concept of these products tend to call menstrual cups and reusable pads "gross." Consider the stats below. We think they are gross!
Disposable Menstrual Products and the Environment
- The average American throws away about 4 pounds of trash every day!
- 2 billion pads and 7 million tampons pollute landfills annually in the US
- An average American woman will contribute 10,000 pads and tampons to landfills which is equal to 300 pounds of trash in her menstruating lifetime
- According to the Center for Marine Conservation, over 170,000 tampon applicators were collected along U.S. coastal areas between 1998 and 1999. YUCK!
Some good news…
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the nation made 245.7 million tons of garbage in 2005, about 1.6 million tons less than in 2004. More people are recycling
Cotton, Pesticides, and the Environment
- Cotton used to make tampons is grown with toxic pesticides that are harmful to the environment
- Tampons are bleached with chlorine. This process produces deadly chemicals called dioxins, which wind up in the environment and remain.
