It is billed as the ”first flush” — the ceremonial opening of a new public toilet on the streets of New York City.
The first of 20 public toilets under the city’s street-furniture contract with Spanish advertising giant Cemusa opened on Thursday at Madison Square Park in Manhattan.
Public toilets have been discussed for years in the city, and a temporary bank of public potties in Times Square got publicity when toilet-paper company Charmin opened them in December for holiday shoppers.
The self-washing, wheelchair-accessible toilets cost 25 United States cents (about R1,70) for 15 minutes before the toilet doors automatically open, and a 60-second cleaning cycle begins after each use.
Cemusa won a bid in 2005 to install the toilets as well as 3 300 new bus shelters and 330 newsstands over a five-year period. — Sapa-AP