Since Beijing stopped collecting fees at public restrooms a few years ago, construction and maintenance of public toilets has become a real pain in the…neck…for district governments.

But the capital's Fengtai District government decided to solve the problem by seeking investors who recognized the previously unrealized potential of public powder rooms.

Two companies won their bids to build and manage 50 Grade A public restrooms situated on major streets and roads in the district. The new buildings will all have three levels, with the partial basement and a section of the ground floor designated as restrooms and the remainder put to commercial use.

Commercial advertising is now also permitted in the toilet area.

The new facilities, each with floor space of at least 450 square meters, should be up and running by November this year.

The investors, Beijing Zhongbaojie Environmental Equipment and Technology Co. and Beijing Jintaocheng Investment Management Co., enjoy the use rights to these toilets for a contracted period of time.

Management of a public restroom, which requires at least two maintenance people, utilities and daily upkeep, costs no less than 40,000 yuan ($4,819) a year.

Estimated construction costs for the new three-level public/commercial hybrid facilities are around 800,000 yuan (aboutUS$96,386).

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2004)