Small Idea. Big Impact. (Less Mess.)

File this under “Small Ideas with Big Impact” ...

PROBLEM:
Too much spillage in the men’s room urinals at Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam).

SOLUTION:
Etch an image of a common housefly near the drain holes of the porcelain urinals.

RESULTS:
Spillage has been reduced by 80%. According to someone close to the project, “The fly improves aim. If a man sees a fly, he aims at it.”

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Further Learning:
This is an example of what professors Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein call a NUDGE. These professors classify any act that attempts to “alter [people’s] behavior in a positive way, without actually requiring anyone to do anything at all” as a NUDGE.

Fascinating stuff. Learn more by reading the NUDGE book, NUDGE blog, and this NY Times article.

Comments

[Barchbo]

Brilliant. Love it. Posted it on Kirtsy.

[MammaLoves]

Can I order three please?

[The Mother]

I'm going to have to get one of those for my boys. Despite their handy-dandy aimer thingies (a technical term) they STILL miss. I have two bathroom floors that need replaced.

[newport81]

In addition to the image of the fly, there is a special "oil" that rests above the water level in the j-shaped pipe that takes the "liquid" from the urinal to the wall pipes. This oil allows human "liquid" to travel through it and then immediately reseals the opening so there is no smell and no need to flush. These no-flush urinals are sprouting up all over and should be part of new policy initiatives - ie. offer tax breaks for installing these in commercial buildings across the US and abroad.

[jeff weir]

What happens if you're standing at the next urinal, and a real fly lands on you? 'Friendly fire'?

[Engago team]

These flies on the urinals are over 10 years old (or longer).
Still maybe it's thanks to the Dutch culture thay have actually have discussed, defined the problem and generated a solution idea.

[tallasiandude]

And all these years, I thought it was more of an art thing. Funny.

Also appreciated the photo cred, although I'd have preferred a direct link, or at least a note letting me know you were using it.

[Julianna]

This is just like the Cheerios we put in the potty when we potty train our boys. They aim at the Cheerios!

[Josh]

In Balmers Hostel in Interlaken, Switzerland, the urinals in the club downstairs have little soccer (futbol) goals with a little soccer ball on a string in front of it. I'm sure it serves the same purpose, and it sure was entertaining in the midst of a drunken pi**.

[Andy Sernovitz]

John -

I'm glad to know I'm not the only blogger who photographs urinals. It's a tough job, but someone has to speak for the urinals!

Andy