As most Chinese public lavatories do not provide paper or charge for their use, Qingdao, in Shandong province, has won much applause after it announced some toilets would be equipped with free-of-charge paper.
From late June, the Qingdao government started providing 100,000 toilet rolls to 24 public lavatories in several scenic spots, involving an investment of 1.5 million yuan (USD 2. 35 lakhs).
But discussions turned embarrassing after online posts said some toilets reported consuming two kilometers of paper every day, as many visitors used it excessively or pocketed paper to take home.
"Some used the paper to wash their face, some to clean their feet and shoes, and some take away extra paper or even the entire roll as they left," a post said, citing management staff in those toilets.
Yu Jikun, who works at a public toilet near May Fourth Square, said three rolls of paper, or 750 meters in length, are consumed by the facility's users per day, as many of them spirited paper away in their pockets or bags.
Misuse of public facilities is rampant in Chinese cities.
More From This Section
Return rates for emergency use umbrellas and public bicycles were so low that many cities suspended such programs over exorbitant costs, Xinhua news agency reported.
Earlier this year, media in Beijing reported that extravagant use of free toilet paper had prompted the city to send staff to handle paper hand-outs or install distribution machines designed to save on paper.
But media analyst Zhang Junyu warned against using national ethics as a pretext to extenuate the Chinese government's slow advance in the provision of public services.