Cambridge bylaw would regulate misleading donation bins

A proposed Cambridge city bylaw would regulate misleading donation bins that appear to be for charity, but are actually operated by for-profit businesses.

"Some of the charities do have their own boxes and everything that's picked up there does go to charity, but there are for-profit companies that make a lot of money off of unsuspecting community members," said Coun. Jan Liggett, who proposed the bylaw.  "It's a big business."

She says these businesses abuse the trust of well-intentioned citizens. 

"When people donate, they don't have to do that, they could put stuff in the garbage, but they give it away to those that are in need," said Liggett. "Those people really, firmly believe that they are helping out the community."

An initial bylaw was introduced to council in September, but was sent back to be reworked by city staff because it didn't address bins on private property. 

The new version would ban boxes from city lands and require bin operators on private property to display details like their organization's name, the type of business they're operating, as well as contact information and a charity registration number. 

Operators that don't adhere to the rules could see their bins removed.

"Some of these boxes have nonexistent labels and they have a telephone number that doesn't go anywhere," said Liggett. "If there is no response, then whoever the property owner is will be liable for payment for taking the box away to the dump. So the property owner might be more responsible if they allow a box on their property." 

The council's general committee, which handles everything except planning, voted in favour of the bylaw at a meeting on Tuesday.

The next step is the vote by Cambridge city council on whether to officially adopt the bylaw on November 15.