Where did all the public bathrooms go?

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Public toilets, trash cans and water fountains are disappearing from cities across the US and parts of Europe, leaving residents, tourists and especially homeless people with few options for basic needs. Commenters link the decline to cost-cutting after COVID, vandalism, drug use, homelessness, bans on pay toilets, liability and a broader shift from shared public amenities toward privatized, “customers only” facilities. Comparisons with places like Japan, Australia and parts of China—where clean, ubiquitous public restrooms are treated as core infrastructure—highlight how policy choices, enforcement, and social attitudes toward the “commons” shape whether such services survive.

Observed Trends

  • Many report long-standing public park restrooms being closed, then demolished and not replaced.
  • COVID-era closures (bathrooms, water fountains) often became permanent.
  • Outdoor trash cans are also disappearing in some cities and commercial areas.
  • In many US cities, downtown “public” bathrooms are now rare; access is often via private businesses that restrict restrooms to paying customers or keep them locked.

Proposed Causes

  • Cost and maintenance: Cleaning, repairs, and staff time are recurring costs; some businesses quietly remove bins/toilets and never replace them.
  • Vandalism and misuse: Frequent mentions of feces on walls, broken fixtures, graffiti, needles, and livestream “stunts” in restrooms.
  • Homelessness, drugs, mental illness: Many argue this combination overwhelms facilities and staff; others note shutting restrooms simply moves the problem into streets and alleys.
  • Low social trust / “bottom 10–20%”: Some say a small antisocial minority destroys shared resources for everyone; others counter that this framing ignores structural causes.
  • Policy history: US bans on pay toilets (CEPTIA) are blamed by some for making toilets unprofitable and thus scarce.
  • Security: In some city centers (e.g., UK) trash cans were removed for anti-terrorism reasons.

International Comparisons

  • Japan is repeatedly cited as a best case: ubiquitous, free, clean public toilets in parks, stations, and convenience stores.
  • China, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe are described as having more public toilets (with mixed cleanliness and sometimes small fees).
  • Several European commenters say quality and availability vary sharply by country and even region.

Social and Political Arguments

  • Strong disagreement on whether the main issue is:
    • Individual antisocial behavior vs.
    • Housing costs, inequality, mental health policy, and drug policy.
  • Some advocate harsher enforcement and even lifetime confinement for repeat offenders; others emphasize treatment, housing-first, and better social safety nets.
  • Debate over “tragedy of the commons”: some see inevitable overuse; others point out that norms, laws, and enforcement can preserve shared resources.

Suggested Solutions

  • Paid toilets with attendants (cash or contactless) to fund cleaning and filter out misuse.
  • More government-funded facilities (toilets, showers) and mapping apps.
  • Design changes: single-user, hardened, sensor-monitored units.
  • Tax incentives for businesses that keep restrooms public.