The first environment-friendly public toilet was opened in a downtown area of the Heping District of Shenyang in Liaoning Province, on Monday.

Using advanced technology, the toilet converts organic substances from human waste into microorganisms and carbon dioxide with the help of bio-bacteria. The result is pollution free.

Up to 100 such free toilets will, hopefully, go into operation in other downtown areas of Shenyang in a year, sources said.

(Liaoshen Evening News April 16, 2007)