Statistics show that up till the end of 2021, 93% of over 47,000 public restrooms in the nation were rated excellent, a major accomplishment for both the public and private sectors. The cleanliness of public restrooms depends not only on the responsible agencies and cleaning crews, but also the public’s willingness to leave a clean environment for the next user. The EPA will continue to endeavor to promote public restroom etiquette, including gratitude to those maintaining clean public restrooms as well as treating them as one’s own bathrooms at home.

To enhance the living and environmental quality for all, the EPA has been endeavoring to maintain a public restroom environment that is not wet, dirty, or smelly and provide a comfortable and safe experience in public restrooms via a rating and evaluation system. For more than 47,000 public restrooms listed for control, statistics show that as of the end of 2021, 93% were rated excellent, clear evidence of enhanced environments under the joint efforts of the public and private sectors.

Private enterprises like CPC Corporation and President Chain Store Corporation have shouldered their corporate social responsibilities, despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with increased cleaning and sanitation work in their public space and restrooms. While people get to enjoy the convenience and security of these restrooms, these places have also become social gathering spots because of the improved restrooms. To acknowledge such quality-enhancing practices, the EPA will hold competitions this year to honor those that perform well in order to urge enterprises to improve their service quality and build a better corporate image.

Recent visits to public restrooms and national polls have revealed that the public’s major complaints are mainly about restrooms in traditional markets and parks. As a result, the EPA will subsidize maintenance and renovations to improve the environment of these restrooms. An exit strategy is also in place, which will be activated for public restrooms that are old, rarely used, or keep failing to maintain their quality so as to reduce dirty spots and management agencies’ workload.

By setting examples for private enterprises to follow, the EPA plans first to subsidize improvement tasks for public restrooms in local governments’ charge that have not attained an excellence rating. Enterprisers in private sectors are urged to provide quality public restrooms as another form of customer service, and the public is asked to treat public restrooms with respect and gratitude and leave a well-maintained one for the next user.

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, April 2022