District staff have been directed to examine the use of clothing donation bins in the District of Mission.
During last week’s council meeting, Mayor Pam Alexis presented a motion asking staff to review the use of donation bins in regards to the “safety concerns recently identified in other communities.”
Three cities in B.C. have already banned donation bins following several recent deaths.
Richmond, Burnaby and West Vancouver have all told organizations to remove their bins following the death of a man in West Vancouver on New Year’s Eve and the recent death of a woman in Toronto.
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are also considering banning the bins, and Inclusion BC has pulled all 146 bins it has in the province.
While Mission is not banning the bins at this time, staff will research the recent incidents, investigate what other B.C. municipalities are doing and talk to some of the companies that use the bins to see what they are planning to do.
When complete, staff will bring a report and recommendation back to council.
A new Research Co. poll suggests seven out of 10 British Columbians say they would support a ban on donation bins following the recent deaths.
– with files from Katya Slepian