Hi John, please don’t think the American way (Western way) is the only way to wipe your ass. In Indonesia e.g., there is a little shower head next to the toilet and they wipe their ass with water. Many people there think toilet paper is stupid. It’s course and damages your skin.

Furthermore, the Western way is just not logical. We put toilet paper (cellulose) in drinking water and later we have to filter it out again.

That’s why I ask to think in cycles. If we are part of the ecosystems we are part of the cycles as well and have to start thinking systemically.

With a dry compost toilet, you can use toilet paper (non-bleached) to wipe your ass because it will be composted.

With a flushing toilet, it is wiser to use water for flushing the toilet and wiping your ass. Don’t use drinking water. It’s way too valuable for flushing toilets. And make sure the wastewater ends up in a place where the nutrients can be used for feeding the soil.