It remains to be seen whether the City of New Westminster will follow West Vancouver’s lead and close clothing donation bins.
On Jan. 2, the District of West Vancouver District announced it is closing donation bins and is looking into options for removing them or using bins that are more secure. The decision to close the bins came after a Vancouver man died after becoming stuck in the opening of a donation bin near Ambleside Park on Dec. 30.
On Jan. 3, Inclusion BC announced it is removing 146 bins from locations across B.C., where people can donate clothing, accessories, shoes, bedding and towels.
In January 2015, New Westminster firefighters used the Jaws of Life to free a man trapped in a clothing donation bin on Quayside Drive, but luckily he wasn’t injured in the incident. Crews attended the scene after receiving reports that someone was stuck in the bin.
“I guess the guy was thrashing around so much that he knocked the thing over and it was on its back. He was banging around in there and somebody must have called,” Fire Chief Tim Armstrong told the Record at the time. “Police were there and they called us to help because they couldn’t get him out.”
In addition to bins, people can donate household and clothing items to charity by taking them to various thrift stores in New Westminster and neighbouring cities. Some charities, including Big Brothers, will also pick up items.
