Touchless dispensers being installed in campus restrooms

Workers from Facilities Services are installing automatic, touchless hand towel and soap dispensers in all restrooms on the Allendale Campus.

Phase one of installation includes academic buildings, student centers, food service buildings and the library.

Janet Aubil, operations supervisor for Facilities Services, said tests showed the touchless dispensers will help reduce waste, be more sanitary and save money. "We found that people use fewer paper towels when they are dispensed versus when someone pulls towels out of a dispenser. The same was true for the soap," she said.

Aubil said less product will need to be ordered and packaging for the products comes in recyclable wrapping.

"During testing, we had a compliment from a parent of a student who has a disability who said the touchless soap and hand towels were easier for her daughter to use because all she had to do was wave her hand to get product," said Aubil. "That was exciting to hear."

Aubil said new toilet paper dispensers are also being installed that have coreless rolls, so no paper is wasted. The first phase of installation will take about a week.