Paper towels v Hand dryers

[PringlesQueen]

Does anybody know which of these two methods is better with respect to the environment?
Should we be filling up our landfill sites with more waste paper products (assuming most public toilets do not recycle their waste paper towels); or getting our power stations to generate the electricity to power the hand dryers?

[bigbanana]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Science/Questio n358552.html

[Azalian]

Environment aside, hand air dryers blow bacteria laden warm air all around the bathroom which presents a hazard to health, note the dryer manufacturers don't seem to bother to highlight this fact in their literature.

You don't ever find warm air dryers in hospitals, so even the NHS must know sonething!

[Panic Button]

I read the link in bigbanana's answer and feel so guilty now about damage to the environment that I'll stop washing my hands

[stewey]

As of July, 2006 all hospital personnel in the UK have been ordered to refrain from washing their hands in order to not get involved in this ongoing dispute.

[crossroads]

This is a good hand drier:
http://www.dysonairblade.co.uk/

[Muppit]

The best solution is not to pee on your hands!