Originally Posted by
lost_in_translation
We are not comparing using an entire bar of soap at home to using an entire container of liquid soap at home and throwing away the packaging on each, we are comparing using a bar of soap 2-3 times and then throwing both it and the packaging away against using a container of liquid hand soap across multiple guest stays that can likely be refilled 100s of times (maybe the pump needs replacing once or twice because it breaks).
The problems are multiple. Dispensers are routinely empty. Dispensers can be tampered with (most of the dispensers used for assorted toiletries at Marriott hotels have tops that can be unscrewed by guests). Dispensers can be refilled with counterfeit products by cheap owners or operators who don't want to use the brand standard product. Dispensers probably break and then have to be chucked away. Dispensers can also be
dirtier and less sanitary because they likely aren't being cleaned or sanitized between guests:
Refillable soap dispensers have been a known public health and safety risk for decades. The CDC (in 2002)1 and the WHO (in 2009)2 recognized the bacterial contamination risk of “topping off” refillable bulk soap dispensers based on the body of evidence and have issued guidelines against it. Because of this, healthcare settings do not use these systems, but they unfortunately are still present in many businesses.