Kazakhstan’s high-tech toilets win global praise for innovation
Glass-walled toilets that darken for privacy spark global attention as Kazakhstan links sanitation upgrades with development goals
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan has unveiled a new generation of public toilets that use technology to transform one of the most basic services into a marker of modernization. In Shymkent, brightly designed facilities now open with QR codes or facial recognition and turn from transparent to opaque glass once occupied.
The units are fully accessible for people with disabilities and maintained under a program led by the city administration in partnership with Miras University.
Officials say the pilot is part of a broader effort to raise hygiene standards and change public perceptions about sanitation. By placing the facilities on busy streets and ensuring they are free to use, the project aims to demonstrate that clean, safe toilets can become a normal part of urban life in Kazakhstan.
English-language outlet The Astana Times reported that the initiative drew praise from Jack Sim, the Singaporean social entrepreneur who founded the World Toilet Organization (WTO). During a visit to Shymkent, Sim commended Nurken Halykbergen, Rector of Miras University, for leading the design and rollout. He invited him to present the model at the World Toilet Summit in New Delhi later this year.
The project comes as Kazakhstan’s rapid economic growth fuels demand for higher living standards. While new malls and offices often feature modern facilities, older infrastructure such as train stations has lagged behind. Authorities say the Shymkent toilets demonstrate how technology can close that gap and set a benchmark for future projects.
Founded in 2001, the WTO campaigns for clean and safe sanitation and was behind the UN’s recognition of World Toilet Day in 2013. Sim said the Shymkent model shows how infrastructure and public discussion together can break taboos and raise expectations. “We use toilets six to eight times a day, but the subject remains taboo. What is not discussed cannot be improved,” he said.
Looking ahead, Sim suggested Kazakhstan could host a World Toilet Summit — the first in Central Asia — to position the country as a regional leader in sanitation policy. Local officials are now considering a nationwide assessment of public facilities to guide future investments.
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