In an attempt to be greener than any other country in the world, Japan has introduced the White Goat. This recycling invention simply boils down to the fact that forty sheets of waste paper will produce one roll of toilet paper.
Is the end result “huggably soft” is a question the answer to which can only be surmised, but what is truly amazing is that the entire process, which involves shredding, dissolving in water, drying out and a final winding out into rolls is completely contained within the machine!
The White Goat saves about 60 cedar trees per year; there’s no question about that. It simply requires paper, which it shreds into a pulp, and water (about 2.5-4 gallons every other day) to create one roll of toilet paper, which can be done in about thirty minutes. The end cost is about 10 cents per roll plus the cost of the machine, which is expected to go on sale this coming summer for about $100,000.
How did this unusual machine get its odd name? According to some who know goats, you can buy an angora goat for about 120 bucks (that’s dollars, not male goats), and along with its regular diet the animal can consume about one newspaper’s worth of paper every day. In addition, the goat will also create free fertilizer, pull a small cart and produce cashmere. If the animal has the nerve to die, you can always eat it, but alas, unless you work in a field or on a farm, you can’t bring a goat to the office.
The White Goat operates on a standard 100v power supply and requires no special plumbing or electrical work for installation. Some have suggested introducing a more affordable home version, which would shred personal papers and perhaps reduce the occurrence of identity theft. One can only wonder what role fabric softener could play in this process. And what about adding an option for paper towels?
Actually, the White Goat would be a great addition for some companies. Recycling is a major concern for all of us, and this could offer paper-shredding services, which can be costly. Think of all of the “bookkeeping and administrative” secrets that could be discarded and yet reused in their own special way. Congressional bills, lawsuits, memos from whomever, IRS demands and corporate “lunch receipts” just to name a few could all become well, toilet tissue.
marjorie
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