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Where to Go in Paris? The Red-Topped Trash Can Where to Go in Paris? The Red-Topped Trash Can
(1 day later)
PARIS — This city, which has had a problem with men urinating in the street for centuries, started supplying public urinals in the 1830s. It has often been a losing battle.PARIS — This city, which has had a problem with men urinating in the street for centuries, started supplying public urinals in the 1830s. It has often been a losing battle.
Enter the eco-toilet, the city’s latest effort to stem street and alley urination. It has a dual purpose (it can grow plants and flowers, too) and is cheerful-looking if a bit bulky.Enter the eco-toilet, the city’s latest effort to stem street and alley urination. It has a dual purpose (it can grow plants and flowers, too) and is cheerful-looking if a bit bulky.
Three eco-toilets were installed with little fanfare, but one that was placed on the elegant and much-visited Ile St. Louis recently has caused the kind of public outcry that is a specialty of the French: witty, politically strident and focused on appearances.Three eco-toilets were installed with little fanfare, but one that was placed on the elegant and much-visited Ile St. Louis recently has caused the kind of public outcry that is a specialty of the French: witty, politically strident and focused on appearances.
“It’s not very beautiful,” said Tiephaine Bobot, who lives on Ile St. Louis, an island in the Seine. She was walking her dog near the quay where the eco-toilet had been set up, with a view of the river and a little sign explaining how to use it.“It’s not very beautiful,” said Tiephaine Bobot, who lives on Ile St. Louis, an island in the Seine. She was walking her dog near the quay where the eco-toilet had been set up, with a view of the river and a little sign explaining how to use it.
“I do not understand why they put it here,” Ms. Bobot said. “They could have hidden it.”“I do not understand why they put it here,” Ms. Bobot said. “They could have hidden it.”
The urinal looks a little like a rectangular metal trash can, except that plants can grow out of the bright red top because of the fertilizing effect of the urine, which mixes with the straw inside the can. A small section that protrudes from the side shields men as they take aim.The urinal looks a little like a rectangular metal trash can, except that plants can grow out of the bright red top because of the fertilizing effect of the urine, which mixes with the straw inside the can. A small section that protrudes from the side shields men as they take aim.
Kevhoney Fautra, who described herself as a blogger, snapped a selfie with it for her followers. She said the idea of getting men to urinate into a box full of straw rather than on the street was a good one. The execution, well, not so much.Kevhoney Fautra, who described herself as a blogger, snapped a selfie with it for her followers. She said the idea of getting men to urinate into a box full of straw rather than on the street was a good one. The execution, well, not so much.
“It’s much better than those smells everywhere,” Ms. Fautra said. “But it’s not well done, it’s aggressive. The red color makes it stand out too much.”“It’s much better than those smells everywhere,” Ms. Fautra said. “But it’s not well done, it’s aggressive. The red color makes it stand out too much.”
Some in the neighborhood agree with Ms. Fautra and have asked for the urinal to be removed.Some in the neighborhood agree with Ms. Fautra and have asked for the urinal to be removed.
But the local mayor, Ariel Weil (each Paris district has its own mayor in addition to one who serves the city as a whole), said that while some “fine tuning” of the location might be needed since the urinal is visible from the Seine, it is not going to be removed.But the local mayor, Ariel Weil (each Paris district has its own mayor in addition to one who serves the city as a whole), said that while some “fine tuning” of the location might be needed since the urinal is visible from the Seine, it is not going to be removed.
“I have complaints all the time about people who urinate on the bridges, on the walls,” he said. “Street urination is a real problem.”“I have complaints all the time about people who urinate on the bridges, on the walls,” he said. “Street urination is a real problem.”
Although almost everyone who lives in Paris would agree, a tweet storm ensued after people caught sight of the eco-toilet. Women pointed out that they could not use it, though no one apparently noticed because women never squat in the street to relieve themselves.Although almost everyone who lives in Paris would agree, a tweet storm ensued after people caught sight of the eco-toilet. Women pointed out that they could not use it, though no one apparently noticed because women never squat in the street to relieve themselves.
What’s more, said Béchir Badgones in a tweet, the city seemed unfazed about putting urinals “in the middle of the street, but when a woman gives her breast to her infant, everyone criticizes her.”What’s more, said Béchir Badgones in a tweet, the city seemed unfazed about putting urinals “in the middle of the street, but when a woman gives her breast to her infant, everyone criticizes her.”
Others said it was unsanitary because there was no place for men to wash their hands. Several people worried that it had been placed too near a school and would draw exhibitionists.Others said it was unsanitary because there was no place for men to wash their hands. Several people worried that it had been placed too near a school and would draw exhibitionists.
Faltazi, the company in Nantes, France, that makes the urinals, said that placing them where everyone accepts them is essential to winning public support.Faltazi, the company in Nantes, France, that makes the urinals, said that placing them where everyone accepts them is essential to winning public support.
The placement, said Victor Massip, a designer at Faltazi who created the concept, “has to be a sort of a social compromise between the locals, the night owls and the city halls.”The placement, said Victor Massip, a designer at Faltazi who created the concept, “has to be a sort of a social compromise between the locals, the night owls and the city halls.”
“The enemy is not the urinal,” he said, “it’s the urine everywhere.”“The enemy is not the urinal,” he said, “it’s the urine everywhere.”
In Nantes, city officials have installed eight urinals in consultation with city residents, he said.In Nantes, city officials have installed eight urinals in consultation with city residents, he said.
“In the rue de la Bletterie, the street which was deemed the most putrid, just one toilet collects 140 liters every three days,” Mr. Massip said. “That’s 280 people who peed. Imagine that in the street.”“In the rue de la Bletterie, the street which was deemed the most putrid, just one toilet collects 140 liters every three days,” Mr. Massip said. “That’s 280 people who peed. Imagine that in the street.”
Paris cannot be faulted for lack of imagination or effort in trying to combat public urination. Going back to the 19th century it has tried public pissoirs and vespasiennes that had places for as many as five or six men at a time. More recent models, in the mid-20th century, had room for one or two men. Paris cannot be faulted for lack of imagination or effort in trying to combat public urination. Going back to the 19th century, it has tried public pissoirs and vespasiennes that had places for as many as five or six men at a time. More recent models, in the mid-20th century, had room for one or two men.
Still, public urination has stubbornly persisted. With Paris making it a priority to remain among the world’s top tourist destinations — touting a reputation for elegance and romance — city officials thought it just would not do to have the strong whiff of half-dried urine wafting up from the Pont des Arts.Still, public urination has stubbornly persisted. With Paris making it a priority to remain among the world’s top tourist destinations — touting a reputation for elegance and romance — city officials thought it just would not do to have the strong whiff of half-dried urine wafting up from the Pont des Arts.
Over the past few years, Paris has installed more than 425 unisex bathrooms, including 150 that are accessible day and night. It also set up another 34 portable public toilets.Over the past few years, Paris has installed more than 425 unisex bathrooms, including 150 that are accessible day and night. It also set up another 34 portable public toilets.
It has tried disincentives to public urination, installing a mirror in one neighborhood so those who relieve themselves have to see themselves.It has tried disincentives to public urination, installing a mirror in one neighborhood so those who relieve themselves have to see themselves.
City officials have also made it a civil offense. They have dedicated 3,200 agents, including 320 who patrol day and night, to search for people urinating, throwing cigarette butts on the ground or defiling Paris’s public spaces in other ways.City officials have also made it a civil offense. They have dedicated 3,200 agents, including 320 who patrol day and night, to search for people urinating, throwing cigarette butts on the ground or defiling Paris’s public spaces in other ways.
Some strategies have been unsuccessful. In 2015, officials experimented with hydrophobic paint on walls along the street that would send urine back onto the offender’s shoes. But the painting project, deemed too expensive, was dropped after a couple of months.Some strategies have been unsuccessful. In 2015, officials experimented with hydrophobic paint on walls along the street that would send urine back onto the offender’s shoes. But the painting project, deemed too expensive, was dropped after a couple of months.
The uritrottoir may have its critics, but several men passing by one on Tuesday said it probably was not a bad idea.The uritrottoir may have its critics, but several men passing by one on Tuesday said it probably was not a bad idea.
“It’s mostly a good thing, seeing the incivilities of Paris,” said Ben Bel Kassem, who said he lived close to the one on Ile St. Louis.“It’s mostly a good thing, seeing the incivilities of Paris,” said Ben Bel Kassem, who said he lived close to the one on Ile St. Louis.
“The placement isn’t the best; it could be more discreet,” he said of the urinal there. “But this is rather good after a beer in the evening.”“The placement isn’t the best; it could be more discreet,” he said of the urinal there. “But this is rather good after a beer in the evening.”
A British tourist, Steward Clark, said he could envision using the new urinal, but only “at 2 in the morning — not in the daytime.”A British tourist, Steward Clark, said he could envision using the new urinal, but only “at 2 in the morning — not in the daytime.”