Rethinking What It Means to "Go" on the Go
Throne Labs is tackling America’s public restroom problem with smart, self-monitoring toilets designed to bring hygiene, dignity, and modern infrastructure to city streets.
Public restrooms are rarely anyone’s favorite topic. Yet their absence—or worse, their unusable condition—quickly becomes a priority when necessity strikes. During a visit to a small village in the Czech Republic a few years ago, a personal experience served as a reminder of just how stark the difference in public sanitation standards can be between countries.
Outside a nondescript building was a sign labeled “WC,” with entrance instructions in English, German, and Russian: “Entry fee: 50 cents.” An older woman sat by the turnstile collecting coins. Expecting the worst—akin to the typical gas station or airport bathroom encounter in the U.S.—we were surprised to find the facility spotless. No paper towels strewn on the floor, no puddles on the tiles, no odor. It was, quite literally, worth the price of admission.
The United States, by comparison, fares poorly. Public restrooms—if they can be found—are often unsanitary, poorly maintained, or inaccessible due to “customers only” policies. In 2018, Starbucks sparked national attention by limiting restroom access to paying customers. The decision highlighted a broader infrastructure issue: most American cities lack accessible, clean public facilities. The result is that individuals caught on the street with no nearby business to patronize are simply out of options.
To compensate, some municipalities have introduced “self-cleaning” public toilets. These automated facilities periodically steam themselves to sanitize surfaces. However, steaming doesn’t remove debris, prevent vandalism, or address other hygiene concerns. Technology without active maintenance doesn’t deliver reliable results.
One company, Throne Labs, believes it has developed a viable alternative. Its “bathroom as a service” model is a modular public toilet system equipped with digital monitoring tools. Sensors detect cleanliness levels, flag inappropriate behavior such as smoking, and issue time warnings to discourage lingering. Users are prompted to rate their experience upon exit. If cleanliness scores decline, a service crew is dispatched.
Throne facilities are currently operational in several U.S. cities. In Los Angeles, for example, units have replaced standard portable toilets and filled sanitation gaps in areas that previously had no coverage. City officials there plan to expand their use ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. According to Throne Labs, early deployments indicate that digital monitoring fosters improved user behavior and more respectful use of shared spaces.
Public sanitation, particularly in urban areas, is a longstanding challenge. In 1854, British physician John Snow identified a cholera outbreak in London linked to a contaminated water pump in Soho. His discovery led to the construction of an underground sewer system that remains operational to this day. The connection between hygiene and public health is not a new concept. It’s just often overlooked.
The ancients arguably did it better. In Roman times, public latrines were the norm. People used them without hesitation or stigma. By most historical accounts, they were relatively clean, well-maintained, and functional.
Modern cities, by contrast, often underfund or ignore public toilet infrastructure. In the U.S., this is compounded by cultural discomfort with the subject itself. The topic of human sanitation—basic as it is—suffers from a puritanical reluctance to acknowledge the need for public “relief.” Because no one wants to clean or maintain them, these spaces are often neglected or eliminated.
The result is clear. The U.S. consistently ranks among the lowest of industrialized nations in terms of public toilet availability and quality. Rather than invest in accessible, hygienic solutions, some cities have opted instead to decriminalize public urination—a passive admission that the system has failed.
Throne Labs is not a perfect solution, but it is a step in the right direction. It applies modern technology to a perennial social need, shifting the conversation from avoidance to active management. The presence of clean, accessible public toilets benefits everyone—residents, tourists, and businesses alike. If cities are serious about health, dignity, and infrastructure, they’ll prioritize solutions like these.
It's time we stop treating public toilets as an afterthought. When well-executed, they represent a fundamental piece of urban planning that reflects how we value our communities—and each other.