Clothing Donations Bins

Whereas donation bins are an important part of zero-waste programs in many municipalities contributing to textile diversion, and deliver an important revenue stream for non-profit organizations. However, in recent years, they have been the site of a number of deaths of people who have been trapped inside them; And whereas on January 15, 2019 and on May 28, 2019, Vancouver City Council took steps to regulate the placement and design of donation bins in the city, including the requirement for verified safe bin designs, and resolved to bring the issue to the annual UBCM conference with the goal of mitigating public safety issues and avoiding tragic deaths. Therefore be it resolved that UBCMsupport a ban on clothing donation bins until safe alternatives certified by a professional engineer that do not pose danger or life safety issues for the public are available in member municipalities.