What an absolutely terrible and gross idea, I definitely hope the white house gets those first if Obama starts pushing for them on environmental grounds.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I’ve seen a few of these in several high-use places around California and I’ve never noticed an unusual odor problem. If the odor can be properly controlled and they are indeed more environmentally-friendly (not sure about that oil…), then why not?
They have these in the San Mateo City main library branch. I have never noticed a smell problem. I imagine that you need to clean them on a regular basis and replace the oil on schedule.
Jonathan
I’ve heard of people using a cup of water from the faucets to rinse out the bowl/pipes of a waterless urinal. Even if you do that, it’s still somewhat more efficient than a typical low-flow urinal. I haven’t seen them in action, though.
And, let’s be honest, half the bathrooms that smell do so because of urine on the floor.
I have never seen one of these urinals. Are they only in the States?
I only pee in sinks
Grew up with them, they’re called trees.
The Wikipedia says Brisbane has some too. It also says there are oil-less units… I wonder if maybe those are the ones that don’t trap odor as well?
The low flow urinals flush half a gallon of water so a cup of water is still less.
Are you calling my girlfriend a tree?
This thread sure is going down the drain… 
Same here. They had them in the restrooms in Muir Woods, and it actually smelled less like a men’s restroom than the restrooms at our AMC theater.
The park was definitely getting their money’s worth; those things saw a lot of traffic.