Facial scanners cut toilet paper usage by half

The facial recognition software installed in the toilet paper dispensers in Beijing’s Tiantan Park has reduced toilet paper usage by half since the installation in March, media reported.

A park staff told the Beijing Youth Daily that “only 10 rolls of paper” were used every day in a toilet that she works in, which is half of the normal consumption. Improper behavior has also reduced sharply after the installation, she added.

Since March, six facial scanners have been installed separately in the male and female sections of the busiest toilets in the park, after reports of an increasing number of local residents raiding the park’s toilets to steal toilet paper.

Now visitors must allow the machine to scan their faces before receiving a 60- centimeter serving of toilet paper. The software will not allow the same person to take toilet paper again within nine minutes. However, not all toilets in the park are protected against the “banditry” as the high- tech face recognition machines are installed only in a few toilets.

A woman was caught “raiding” the toilet paper dispenser three times on Saturday in a toilet near the Echo Wall in the park with no face scanner.

The facial scanners have received mixed responses. Some complained that the machine sometimes didn’t work, while others were worried the waiting time of 30 seconds might cause problems in urgent situation.