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Seattle selling five troublesome toilets on eBay
$5 million test in self-cleaning units deemed failure; bids start at $89,000
 | This is one of five self-cleaning toilet stalls placed on eBay by the city of Seattle. |
Bigadoo, Inc. |
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SEATTLE - Seattle's five problem-plagued public toilets could be yours if you're flush.
City officials decided to pull the plug on the multimillion-dollar self-cleaning toilet stalls and instead put them on the auction site eBay.
Starting bids are $89,000 apiece.
Neighbors and city-commissioned analysts said the unisex facilities attracted drug users and prostitutes, and were less cost-effective than regular public restrooms.
On May 19, the City Council voted to remove the problem toilets. Council President Richard Conlin said although people were using the high-tech, self-cleaning silver stalls, they also fostered illegal behavior, such as prostitution and drug use.
The German-made automatic, high-tech toilets were installed in 2004 and have cost the city about $5 million. Each has handsfree washing and drying ability and an emergency button that automatically dials 911.
The automated doors on the impact- and graffiti-resistant toilets will close Aug. 1, said Andy Ryan, a spokesman for Seattle Public Utilities. The auction will last for 10 days.
As of Thursday morning, none of the toilets had received any bids.
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