To continuously enhance the overall service quality of public restrooms nationwide and create restroom environments that are comfortable, safe, and dignified, the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) organized an outstanding public restroom awards program. Public and private enterprises and local governments submitted nominations, which were reviewed through written evaluations by experts and scholars, on-site assessments, and online voting. In the end, 20 outstanding public restrooms, five outstanding gender-friendly public restrooms, three distinctive public restrooms, and three outstanding cleaning units were selected. An awards ceremony was held on Nov. 19, World Toilet Day, echoing the global emphasis on public sanitation and sustainable development. Environmental Management Administration (EMA) Director-General Yen Hsu-ming presented the awards, recognizing and commending the hard work and dedication of the award-winning management and cleaning units.

The EMA stated that this year’s evaluation not only encouraged greater participation by businesses and private organizations to jointly improve public restroom service quality but also continued to promote gender-friendly restrooms to advance diversity and inclusivity, with participating units demonstrating strong overall performance in management systems and maintenance.

In the enterprise category, award recipients included CPC Corporation Taiwan Waipu Service Station, CPC Corporation Taiwan Longgang Service Station, Formosa Oil Chiayi HSR Boulevard Station, Uni-President Tongji Store, and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Tainan Ximen Store. In the transportation facilities category, awards went to TRA Nangang Station, Yilan Station, Taichung Metro Jiushe Station, Nantou Service Area, Taipei International Airport, Taichung Airport, and Taichung Port Visitor Service Center. In the tourism and recreation category, winners included Xiaoyeliu Visitor Center and Kouhu Visitor Center. In the local government-recommended category (outstanding public restroom group), top honors were awarded to Daan Forest Park, Taichung City Shiquan Park, Sanmin East District Kaohsiung Industrial High School Public Multi-story Parking Facility, Yilan County Jinshan Park, Yunlin County Government Department of Culture and Tourism Library, and CPC Corporation Taiwan Fengrong Service Station.

The Outstanding Gender-Friendly Public Restroom Award was not awarded last year, but this year, thanks to continued efforts by participating units, the top honors were claimed by Chung Hsing Cultural and Creative Park, Changhua County Local Tax Bureau, Yunlin County Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, Chiayi County Government, and New Taipei City Longfeng Park. Outstanding Cleaning Unit awards were presented to the Reliance Group Songshan Airport Team, the Hsin Tung Yang Co., Ltd. Nantou Service Area Team, and the CPC Corporation Taiwan Fengrong Service Station Team. In addition, competition in the Distinctive Public Restroom category was particularly intense this year. Based on performance in management, design, and distinctive features, the judging panel selected Taipei Metro Zhongshan Station, Mingjian Township Nursery Ecological Park, and the Ximen Red House as award recipients. Among them, the Taipei Metro Zhongshan Station features antibacterial restrooms, integrating technology-inspired wall designs and bright layouts to enhance users’ sense of safety and comfort; Mingjian Township Nursery Ecological Park uses painted walls to express nature and childlike charm, combining aesthetics with inclusivity for diverse groups; the Ximen Red House balances historic preservation with gender-friendly principles, striving to advance a sustainable and inclusive vision of restroom access that leaves no one behind.

The EMA explained that public-private collaboration has become a key driving force in improving the quality of public environments. Going forward, the administration will continue to promote distinctive public restrooms and deepen gender-friendly concepts, ensuring that public toilets not only provide clean and comfortable services but also showcase urban culture and the spirit of diversity and inclusion, becoming highlight facilities that enhance local tourism and city image. In addition, the administration calls on the public to participate in maintaining restroom environments by upholding the principle of “clean up after yourself.” When encountering cleaning staff, the public is encouraged to show consideration for their hard work and not hesitate to compliment and thank them so that together we can create a better restroom environment.