Toilet at Motorway Service Stations Expensive Business

In the service area in 2012 criticized the ADAC test the pay toilets at German service areas. The Operator resists: Top quality is not free of cost possible.

For many highway travelers, it is a nuisance: access to toilet facilities in most service areas is only about 70 cents fee. This includes a consumption voucher in the amount of 50 cents, 20 cents but still an extra cost to use. The operators of these service areas, the Bonn-based company Tank & Rast, defends himself against criticism of the now-pay toilets and justified it with their own costs. The ADAC criticized in his roadhouse test in 2012 the cost of toilet use in Germany. In neighboring countries is the use of either free or the fee will be refunded if the customer in the shop or restaurant spend money.

The spokesman of Tank & Rast, Andreas Rehm, said the additional fee of 20 cents flowed back into the quality assurance. "This kind of top quality, however, is not free of cost possible." For additional offers customers free of charge were ready, such as baby changing facilities, disabled toilets or defibrillators. The fee is necessary for cleanliness and hygiene could be maintained, despite significantly higher costs for operation and maintenance. So far, about 80 million € were in the "Sanifair" facilities have been invested.

The sanitation system "Sanifair" was introduced in 2001 in the first service areas. Since 2009, the current fee is set at 70 cents, which applies to the complete utilization of the sanitary system. The income did not comment on the company. The tenants were given the greater part of the fee, said Rehm. The Autobahn Tank & Rast runs - most with private tenants - almost all their gas stations and motorway service stations in Germany. The company was formerly in the possession of Federal and was privatized in 1998th