There’s plenty of toilet paper in the US – so why are people hoarding it?

March 20, 2020
By
There’s plenty of toilet paper in the US – so why are people hoarding it?

Almost 150 U.S. companies make toilet paper. Studio Dagdagaz/Shutterstock.com Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University The other day I went into Costco to buy some toilet paper. It came as a small shock when I couldn’t find a single roll. The new coronavirus is inspiring panic buying of a variety of household products such as...

Read more »

The POOP Project is coming to Portland 2/22/2020!

February 13, 2020
By
The POOP Project is coming to Portland 2/22/2020!

Straight from New York City, The POOP Project is coming to Portland! How do you break the potty taboo and catalyze creative conversation about sustainable sanitation for the person, planet and world community?  The People’s Own Organic Power (POOP) Project​ has been showing us how, using a brilliant combination of theater, art, and education....

Read more »

NYC Restrooms 4 All takes up the challenge

September 4, 2019
By

We celebrate the launch of NYC Restrooms 4 All with a post by co-founder and Roosevelt Institute Fellow, Maeve Flaherty. If you’ve spent any time in New York City, you’ve had that sinking sensation — a desperate need to go to the bathroom, and no place to go. You look around and there are...

Read more »

Second Graders Tackle Sanitation Justice in Brooklyn, New York

July 6, 2019
By
Second Graders Tackle Sanitation Justice in Brooklyn, New York

Read more »

Do Americans enjoy the Human Right to Water and Sanitation?

January 23, 2019
By
Do Americans enjoy the Human Right to Water and Sanitation?

In a recent segment on NPR affiliate KLCC, Oregon journalist Denise Silfee points out that the UN General Assembly affirmed the human right to water and sanitation in 2010 while the United States failed to join the majority of nations voting for the resolution. In her interview with people sheltering in a Rest Stop...

Read more »

Fall brings new opportunities for PHLUSH to go “glocal”

October 29, 2018
By
Fall brings new opportunities for PHLUSH to go “glocal”

We're all in this together, aren't we? We all poop and pee. How about joining PHLUSH as a donor or volunteer?

Read more »

Hurricanes, homelessness, and human needs – 2017 Annual Report

May 18, 2018
By
Hurricanes, homelessness, and human needs – 2017 Annual Report

In 2017, we made progress toward our goals against a background of hurricanes, homelessness, and a new awareness of human needs that underlines the significance of our work.  We invite you to download our 2017 PHLUSH Annual Report. The deadly consequences of hygiene facilities that came too late   Public toilet and hygiene facilities protect...

Read more »

Design Trends: Inclusion, Privacy, Efficiency, & Convenience

February 6, 2018
By
Design Trends: Inclusion, Privacy, Efficiency, & Convenience

We’ve been taking a closer look at contemporary restrooms and see some excellent trends in their design, namely inclusion, privacy, efficiency, and convenience. INCLUSION Inclusive, gender-neutral restrooms serve everyone from those caring for opposite sex children or elders to gender non-conforming people. Unlike single unisex ADA toilet rooms, new space-efficient facilities bring everyone into...

Read more »

Transit’s missing link: The public toilet

January 19, 2018
By
Transit’s missing link: The public toilet

This case study illustrates how the lack of a public restroom on a key route can render transit unusable for many riders and what community members can do to fight back. When it opened in late 2016, riders changing buses at an expensive new transit center in Washington State were dismayed to find they...

Read more »

World Water Week 2017: Live Blog

August 26, 2017
By
World Water Week 2017: Live Blog

Welcome to the PHLUSH live blog of World Water Week 2017. PHLUSH Program Manager Carol McCreary is live blogging (using Twitter) the event in Stockholm, Sweden from August 27th to September 1st. The event program is here. The exhibitors are here. If you want her to discuss a specific topic, please leave a comment...

Read more »

Our Mission Through education and advocacy, PHLUSH helps local governments and citizen groups to provide equitable public restroom availability and to prepare for a pipe-breaking seismic event with appropriate ecological toilet systems.

Our Vision Toilet availability is a human right and well-designed sanitation systems restore health to our cities, our waters and our soils.

Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human (PHLUSH) was founded in Portland, Oregon and today collaborates with groups across North America.

PHLUSH is a member of the World Toilet Organization and a partner in the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance.

Blog Archives