Charity drop boxes in Langley Township won’t be allowed on local roads without council approval.
The new rule, adopted at the Monday, June 10 council meeting, aims to enforce better maintenance of the bins used to collect donations of books, clothes and other items.
The charities that own the boxes are allowing them to get run down and vandalized, said Councillor Charlie Fox.
“They don’t do a particularly diligent job,” Fox said.
The only councillor who voted against the new rules was Kim Richter, who said she would prefer to ban them.
“They’re not properly maintained,” Richter said.
A Township list of donation bin locations shows 17 are operated by five charities through the community; the Autism Society of BC, Canadian Diabetes Association, Children’s Wish Foundation, Development Disabilities Association and Discovery Books.
The new policy will require charities who want to place bins on a public roadside to pay the Township a security deposit “as required by the municipal engineer” and carry out regular inspections.
If a drop box has “become deteriorated, dilapidated” or constitutes a physical hazard or “has become unsightly” a bylaw officer will give the owner 48 hours to fix the problem or the Township may do it and deduct the cost from the security deposit.
The requirement for council permission only applies to drop boxes left on public roads, not those on private property, which are covered under bylaws against untidy and unsightly properties.
Township staff will contact the charities about the new rules before beginning enforcement.