Better public toilet designs needed to tackle insanitary habits in restrooms

I refer to the state of public toilets and the behaviour of toilet users in Singapore.

Undesirable public toilet behaviour is partly due to poor public toilet designs, which do not encourage good hygiene practices.

There is the problem of toilet paper dispensers being placed outside toilets.

This is not confined only to hawker centres. It is also the case at more heavily utilised public toilets, such as those at MRT stations. Posters indicating that the dispensers are placed outside the cubicles to save the environment are not acceptable.

Toilet paper should be a basic provision in every cubicle.

There are many other ways to save the environment without affecting toilet users. It does not make sense for users to take an estimated amount of toilet paper from outside, only to find that it is insufficient.

It is also appalling and worrying to see many toilet users not washing their hands. At times, this is perfunctory: A flick of one hand under the tap without bothering to use soap.

Handwashing is a basic hygiene practice. I would like to propose that toilet operators speed up the water flow for taps.

With this, I am confident that more people would wash their hands, as it would be less cumbersome to do so.

Other facilities, such as coat hooks and shelves, are also not consistently provided for and this inconveniences users, since there is a lack of space for users to temporarily place their belongings.

Hand towel dispensers should also be provided at all public toilets.

Can the Restroom Association (Singapore), which has devised an excellent guide on public toilet design and maintenance, work with the National Environment Agency and other stakeholders to ensure that all public toilets in Singapore are designed to a high standard and are consistent in the amenities they provide?

It is a shame that we are a First World nation, but are lacking in social graces.

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