PHLUSH began in 2005 when it recognized the need for better restroom access in Portland. Since then, it has assisted in the development of the Portland Loo, advocated successfully for more gender-neutral facilities, pushed for the eventual adoption of the twin bucket system in case of an emergency that destroys sewer infrastructure, and many other sanitation related achievements.
PHLUSH has an advocate network that expands nationwide and is one of only a handful of organizations in America advocating for better public sanitation.
2017
Tracked and highlighted sanitation disasters
We tracked sanitation disasters throughout the year: Twenty Sam Diegans died of Hepatitis A, with most deaths attributed to the lack of public toilets and handwashing facilities on city streets. Texans, Floridians and Peurto Ricians lost wastewater treatment facilities to hurricanes. We drafted a new Disaster Sanitation Planning Guide. Carol McCreary represented PHLUSH at the World Toilet Summit in Stockholm. For World Toilet Day, Hayley...
Read More2016
PHLUSH becomes a non-profit
PHLUSH was incorporated as a non-profit and received 501(c)3 status from the IRS. We submitted a business plan to Wayfind Legal and received pro bono legal services. Founding Directors Hayley Joyell Smith, Abigail Brown, and Poonam Sharma formally endorsed the Articles of Incorporation under Washington State law, adopted the Bylaws, and stepped in the roles of President, Vice President and Secretary, respectively. In October, Angela...
Read More2015
All-User restrooms
PHLUSH assisted a Portland City Commissioner in drafting resolution on All-User Restrooms, which passed unanimously on December 17th. We advised the team redesigning Seattle Parks restroom to meet all-gender specifications. We issued the 65-page Public Toilet Advocacy Toolkit for World Toilet Day. Jeff Holiman co-authored with Helen Rowe et al. Integrating legacy soil phosphorus into sustainable nutrient management strategies for future food, bioenergy and water...
Read More2014
Emergency sanitation policy proposals
For the Multnomah County, Oregon Department of Emergency Management organized a workshop in partnership with Recode and the PDNA Emergency Preparedness Committee. For Jefferson County, Washington, the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), convened a study group that proposed emergency sanitation policy, helped draft Twin Bucket system leaflets for households with sewered and onsite systems, and partnered with DEM and Local 20/20 on community outreach. We continued...
Read More2013
Premiere of Restorative Sanitation exhibit
The Annual Report for 2012 was released. A Restorative Sanitation exhibit premiered at the NVOAD conference and was visited by key FEMA and CDC staff. Jeff Holiman represented PHLUSH at the Sustainable Phosphorus Research Coordination Network kick off in Washington, DC. Oxford University Press releases Phosphorus, Food and Our Future to which Carol McCreary is a contributor.
Read More2012
PBEM endorses Twin-Bucket Emergency Toilet
The City of Portland Bureau of Emergency Management endorsed the Twin-Bucket Emergency Toilet. We developed public leaflet based on The Cloacina Project‘s Sewer Catastrophe Companion. PHLUSH spoke at 18 community events. We launched a newsletter Pee, Poo and You! and participated in Reinventing the Toilet events at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We hosted a 3-day visit to Portland of World Toilet Organization Founder Jack Sim....
Read More2011
PHLUSH website and blog
PHLUSH expanded our knowledge and website content regarding ecological sanitations, and regularly replied to inquiries from grassroots North American groups promoting public restrooms. We conducted a Toilets for Emergencies fall campaign in collaboration with The Cloacina Project, Pacific Northwest College of Art, and compost toilet team of the New Zealand Permaculture Guild. A paper on “Building Safe Toilet Design into Shared Urban Space.” was presented...
Read More2008
The Portland Loo
PHLUSH Public Restroom Design Principles were adopted by neighborhood groups. PHLUSH supported the launch of The Portland Loo and served on design team for Ankeny Plaza restroom complex.
Read More2007
PHLUSH helps open new toilets in Portland
Three PHLUSH volunteers are appointed by Portland Mayor Tom Potter to the Restroom Implementation Team which opened seven new toilets in downtown Portland and put contemporary signage on historic comfort stations. In collaboration with Central City Concern and with the Village Building Convergence 7 of City Repair, PHLUSH hosted community toilet design workshops.
Read More2006
PHLUSH advises on Portland's public restroom strategies
PHLUSH presented Public Restrooms for Old Town Chinatown: A Report to the Communityfor adoption by the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association and other local groups. We later advised Relief Works, a graduate team at Portland State University School of Urban Studies, on the publication of Going Public: Strategies for Meeting Public Restroom Need in Portland’s Central City. We also collaborated with City Repair to participate...
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Research with MFA student Xinxiao Hui Public Pissour, or urinal, in Nyhavn, Copenhagen While Copenhagen may be listed as the fifth most densely populated city for public toilet per square kilometer in 2023, they are not always easy to find or accessible for all…
Research with MFA student Keliang Li Pee Curl, or public urinal for men, in Amsterdam On a recent trip to Amsterdam, when I asked a local shop owner where I could use the restroom, she told me there were plenty of places for men but…
Written with MFA student Tong Zhao Proposed public toilet, called a Sanisette, near Eiffel Tower in Paris With all the coffee and wine you’ll be drinking in Paris, it’s good to know there are plenty of free public restrooms. Cafes are everywhere in Paris: go…
Public Toilets Case Studies with Pratt Institute: Copenhagen, Denmark
Public Toilets Case Studies with Pratt Institute: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Public Toilets Case Studies with Pratt Institute: Paris, France
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1240 W. Sims Way #59, Port Townsend WA 98368
PHLUSH is a tax-exempt, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. EIN: 81-3327116