Since Beijing stopped collecting fees at public toilets a few years ago, building and maintaining the operation of public toilets have become a headache for district governments.

To solve this problem, the government of Beijing's Fengtai District has decided to raise funds for construction of public toilets by allowing investors to use parts of the toilet building for commercial purposes.

Two companies had won the bid to build and manage 50 first-class public toilets along main streets and roads of Fengtai District. The new toilets would be three-story buildings, with the semi-basement and part of the ground floor designated as public toilets and the rest for commercial use.

In addition, commercial advertisements are allowed in the toilet areas.

These public toilets, each with a floor space of no less than 450 square meters, are expected to be put into use 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 defined period of time.

Management of a public toilet, which would involve at least two keepers and such matters as water and electricity supply, heating, drainage, transport and daily maintenance, cost at least 40,000 yuan (aboutUS$4,819) a year.

It is estimated that construction of the new-type toilet will cost around 800,000 yuan (aboutUS$96,386).

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2004)