Clean streets & restrooms
Consistent priorityTrash, litter, rodent control and public restrooms so neighborhoods are clean and basic hygiene needs are met.
Residents consistently ask for more public trash cans, rat-proof waste containers, regular street cleaning and free, clean public restrooms in every neighborhood.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
276 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 62 | 5.1% | 9 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 147 | 12.2% | 1 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 67 | 5.1% | 9 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
More public trash cans and pickups
Residents want more public trash cans, emptied more often, especially near bus stops, restaurants, parks and in neighborhoods they feel are underserved.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Rat control and rat-proof trash storage
Residents link rats to trash left on streets and ask for enclosed or rat-proof bins, trash cans for small buildings, and targeted control in places like Allston.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Public restrooms
Residents ask for more free, clean, accessible public restrooms in parks, near transit and in neighborhoods with none, so no one has to buy something to use a toilet.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
More frequent street cleaning and cleanup staff
Residents ask for more frequent sweeping and for paid or volunteer crews to clear litter from streets and sidewalks.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Education on litter, recycling and pet waste
Residents ask for awareness programs and workshops that teach neighbors how to dispose of trash properly, recycle and pick up after pets.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Ideas covered a broad mix of trash cans, rat control, public bathrooms, and cleanup, including rat birth control pilots, trash barrels for small buildings, and some requests for public showers.
2025–26
Public restrooms dominated this cycle: well over a hundred ideas asked for free, clean, 24/7 bathrooms near transit stations, and many Chinatown residents asked for a restroom at the gate.
2026–27
Ideas turned to how trash is stored and collected, including shared or street-side bins in East Boston, the North End and the South End, along with more street cleaners in Chinatown and a smaller number of restroom requests.
New in 2026–27
New or growing asks include NYC-style shared or containerized trash bins and street-side storage for homes without space, plus beach and harbor cleanup, poison-free rat control, and Chinatown street cleaning staffing.
Funding so far
The 2024-25 rat prevention winner addresses the recurring rodent and waste-management ask, but no winning project yet covers public restrooms, more public trash cans, street cleaning crews, or litter and recycling education.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
Rat Prevention Initiatives in Dense Residential Areas
2024–25 · $500,000
This proposal aims to tackle rodent infestations in identified hotspots by improving waste management practices and reducing food access for rats.
Departments that often lead this work
- Public Works
- Boston Public Health Commission
- Parks & Recreation
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Clean streets & restrooms
276 ideas
2024–25: 62 · 2025–26: 147 · 2026–27: 67
- Trash containers in converted parking spaces to cut ratsResident asks the City to expand containerized trash collection by converting parking spaces to bins, as in NYC, to reduce rodents, loose trash, smell and sidewalk crowding in dense neighborhoods.2026–27City-wide
- Build more public bathroomsResident asks the City to expand public bathrooms, perhaps building one or two new ones, since few free options exist and access is a matter of dignity.2026–27City-wide
- Clean the streetsResident asks for street cleaning.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Clean the streetsResident asks for street cleaning.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Clean streets and sidewalksResident asks for cleaning of streets and sidewalks.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Pet owner education on cleaning up after petsResident asks for education on good manners and care for pet owners, such as picking up pet waste from streets, sidewalks, parks and common areas, to promote respect among neighbors.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Community education on pest preventionResident asks for community education on strategies to reduce or eliminate cockroaches and mice in homes.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Chinatown cleanup, rodent control, emergency call boxes, public space upgradesResident asks for better cleaning and rodent control in dense areas like Chinatown, public space improvements, emergency call boxes, and humane limits on street sleeping in certain public areas with organized placement.2025–26ChinatownSubmitted in Chinese
- Community reuse centers for secondhand goodsResident asks for reuse centers where people can drop off and pick up functioning secondhand books, clothes, furniture and appliances, to reduce waste and consumption.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in French
- Water fountains on main streets and squaresResident asks for water fountains on main streets and squares throughout the city.2025–26City-wide
- Infrastructure to stop trash left on East Boston streetsResident says trash is left in the public way on trash day in East Boston, which lacks back alleys, and asks for infrastructure investment for cleaner streets.2025–26East Boston
- Install trash cans in neglected neighborhoodsResident asks for trash cans to be installed around the city, noting litter is more visible in some neighborhoods than others and that cleaner streets would bring equity and pride.2025–26City-wide
- More bathrooms on the EsplanadeResident asks for more restrooms on the Esplanade to prevent human waste ending up in the Charles River and to help park visitors.2025–26Back Bay
- Rodent control in AllstonResident asks the city to combat rats on Allston Street and near Ringer Park, calling it a public safety and health issue.2025–26City-wide
- Teen groups to clean up trash and weedsResident asks that trash and weeds be cleared across the city and paint applied where needed, with teen groups doing the work, so residents can feel proud of their city.2025–26City-wide
- Community clean-up events and painting projectsResident proposes organizing community clean-ups to remove trash and weeds and paint public spaces, encouraging diverse youth groups to participate and work together.2025–26City-wide
- Clean up Back Bay station and pigeonsResident asks for Back Bay station to be cleaned and improved, noting it looks dirty and is swarming with pigeons, to make transit more appealing and accessible.2025–26Back Bay
- More public bathrooms across the cityResident asks for more public restrooms so people can move around the city comfortably, especially unhoused people who may not feel welcome using store or hotel facilities.2025–26City-wide
- Public bathrooms at T stations without themResident asks for publicly available bathrooms at T stations lacking them, to serve people experiencing homelessness and others who need them.2025–26City-wide
- Chinatown restroom, smoother roads, parking and safetyResident asks for a public restroom near the Chinatown gate, smoother road surfaces, more parking and a new lot, and better management of homelessness to improve community safety.2025–26ChinatownSubmitted in Chinese