European Championships 2024 - The Senate discusses installing free public restrooms.
The future of free public toilets in Berlin is up in the air. A trial program is currently taking place. State Secretary for Climate Protection and the Environment, Britta Behrendt (CDU), shared this information on Thursday at the House of Representatives, stating, "We're discussing how to proceed given the current conditions. The conversations are quite intense." The topic is important to the Senate Department for Transport, Environment, and Climate Protection.
Negotiating with Wall AG
There's no need to fear that free public toilets will shut down, even during the European Football Championship, which ends in mid-July. Behrendt assured, "We've got a moratorium until the end of June. That doesn't mean the public free toilets will vanish afterwards." She added, "We're in active talks with Wall AG."
The Left's deputy Katalin Gennburg inquired about strategies to tackle public urination in public areas, green spaces, and front doors during the EM.
Behrendt responded, "Rest easy, we're focused on sustaining these services, if not for the long term, at least until the end of the EM." The European Championship commences on June 14, with six games scheduled in Berlin, including the finale.
The Senate believes public restrooms are vital for a thriving city, especially when compared to other metropolises. Behrendt emphasized, "Berlin is well-prepared on this front."
Regarding the possibility of installing permanent free public toilets on the Straße des 17. Juni amidst the Fan Mile during the EM, Behrendt clarified, "It's not just the Senate making these decisions. We're working in close collaboration with all districts, determining potential locations together."
Discussions on free public toilets in Berlin have been ongoing for years. The pilot project originated under the previous red-green-red administration.
