ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A video posted online has revealed that some public washrooms in China are only giving out toilet tissue once the visitor has watched an ad on their phone.

People using the washrooms in question are required to scan a QR code displayed on a wall-mounted toilet roll dispenser. Once they have done so, the code directs their smartphone to an advert that lasts several seconds.

The machine then dispenses around six squares of paper and if people want more, they have to watch more adverts. Alternatively, they can pay 0.5 Chinese RMB to receive their toilet paper without having to watch an ad.

The video - shared by China Insider - provides no context as to whether the washroom shown is located in a transport hub, a restaurant or in a public block.

The aim of the system is said to be to cut down on usage and prevent people from taking out more paper than they need - or pilfering it for use at home.

This was also the rationale behind the implementation of facial-recognition technology in the toilets in Beijing's Temple of Heaven Park. Installed in 2017, these contain toilet paper dispensers that only allow visitors to take out toilet tissue once their faces have been scanned. If they want more, they then have to wait seven minutes before the dispenser will allow them to do so.

Providing free toilet paper in public washrooms is by no means a given in China, where visitors are often urged to bring their own roll when using away-from-hone facilities.