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 cans and trees in Black and brown neighborhoodsResident asks for more trash cans and tree planting in neighborhoods like Roxbury and Dorchester to reduce litter and provide shade, citing unequal infrastructure investment.2025–26City-wide
- More frequent street cleaning and more trash binsResident asks for a regular cleaning schedule, weekly sweeping, community leaf and snow removal crews, and more sorted trash and recycling bins to reduce litter.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Public restroom at Chinatown gateResident asks for a public restroom near the Chinatown gate to improve basic neighborhood facilities.2025–26ChinatownSubmitted in Chinese
- Public restroom at Chinatown gateResident asks for a public restroom near the Chinatown gate to improve basic neighborhood facilities.2025–26ChinatownSubmitted in Chinese
- Permanent public restrooms in parks and public areasResident asks for permanent public restrooms, not portable toilets, in parks and public areas to improve cleanliness, reduce disease spread and give homeless people and visitors dignified access.2025–26City-wide
- Smoking bans in playgrounds and cleaner public restroomsResident proposes multilingual no-smoking signs and ranger enforcement in playgrounds and parks, plus scheduled restroom cleaning, a QR code or 311 reporting system and weekly disinfection.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Maintained portable toilets at large parksResident asks for maintained portable toilets at large parks with picnic areas citywide, citing North End Langone Park as a prime example.2025–26City-wide
- More public bathrooms near MBTA stopsResident asks for more bathrooms in MBTA areas to meet public sanitation needs, citing people urinating in crowded streets.2025–26Downtown
- Public restrooms in ChinatownResident says Chinatown has no public restrooms and crowded parks leave streets dirty, and asks for more public toilets to improve the neighborhood's image.2025–26ChinatownSubmitted in Chinese
- Paid street cleanup jobs in low-income neighborhoodsResident proposes paying people to clean streets in low-income and minority neighborhoods to improve the environment, attract tourists and boost local business.2025–26City-wide
- Clean, safe, accessible public restrooms across communityResident asks for multiple clean, safe, accessible public restrooms in the community, with fees at most covering maintenance, so everyone has dignified sanitation access.2025–26City-wide
- More public restrooms on transitResident asks for more public restrooms on the transit system.2025–26City-wide
- Free 24/7 public bathrooms near transit stationsResident asks the City to build free, clean, accessible, 24/7 bathrooms with sanitary products and needle disposal on City land near busy transit stations.2025–26City-wide
- Free 24/7 public bathrooms near transit stationsResident asks the City to build free, clean, accessible, 24/7 bathrooms with sanitary products and needle disposal on City land near busy transit stations.2025–26City-wide
- Public restrooms at high-volume T stopsResident asks for public restrooms at busy T stops to make transit easier for people with disabilities and to encourage ridership.2025–26City-wide
- Free 24/7 public bathrooms near transit stationsResident asks the City to build free, clean, accessible, 24/7 bathrooms with sanitary products and needle disposal on City land near busy transit stations.2025–26City-wide
- 24/7 public restrooms near public transitResident asks for more public restrooms near public transit that are open around the clock and accessible to all.2025–26City-wide
- Composting pilot for Egleston SquareResident proposes a pilot with restaurant composting and public compost bins beside trash and recycling bins in Egleston Square to reduce landfill waste.2025–26Jamaica Plain
- Free, clean 24/7 restrooms near public transitVisitor asks for free, always-open, accessible, clean and well-maintained public restrooms near transit, stocked with sanitary products.2025–26City-wide
- Rat-proof trash cans for Allston VillageResident asks for rat-proof trash cans in Allston Village, like those the North End received, to address rats and persistent trash problems.2025–26Allston