ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A man in Amsterdam has been injured after a pop-up public toilet emerged from the ground unexpectedly.

The toilet sent a nearby moped flying through the air and this hit the unnamed man, who was taken to hospital with injuries to his abdomen.

The incident happened on Weteringschans, a main road in Amsterdam's city centre. Some witnesses who heard the bang and saw the wreckage feared there had been an explosion.

The man was standing near a Urilift retractable urinal in the early evening when the incident occurred. Amsterdam authorities are investigating.

Pop-up toilets have become a feature of European cities in recent years. The concept was the brainchild of Dutch company Urilift and was hailed as the answer to street urination by municipalities all over Europe when the first pop-up toilets were introduced in 2002.

During the daytime the toilets resemble manhole covers in the ground. The cylindrical units are then raised via remote control during the evening when clubbers and other revellers are likely to hit the streets.

There are currently around 125 Urilift toilets in 70 countries including Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. UK towns using the toilets include Watford, Islington and Guildford.

The units have generally been hailed as a success since they are self-cleaning and can cater for up to 125 people an hour. They are unlikely to be vandalised since they are only visible for short periods of time.

The Amsterdam incident is believed to be the first injury associated with pop-up loos.