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Death prompts New Westminster to review safety of clothing donation bins

While the City of New Westminster is concerned about public safety, it wants to avoid making a kneejerk reaction that negatively impacts local charities.
donation bins
Clothing donation bins have come under scrutiny following a death of a man who died after getting stuck in a bin in West Vancouver in December.

While the City of New Westminster is concerned about public safety, it wants to avoid making a kneejerk reaction that negatively impacts local charities.

A Vancouver man died after becoming stuck in the opening of a donation bin near Ambleside Park on Dec. 30, prompting the District of West Vancouver District to announce it is closing clothing donation bins and is looking into options for removing them or using bins that are more secure. Inclusion BC subsequently announced it is removing 146 bins from locations across B.C., where people can donate clothing, accessories, shoes, bedding and towels.

On Monday, Coun. Mary Trentadue put forward a motion about clothing and donation bins, which asked staff to report back on the immediate situation regarding clothing and donation bins in New West and steps the city could take to improve safety. The motion noted there have been a number of tragic accidents in Canada resulting in death due to people getting trapped in bins, but said it’s unclear exactly what style of bins are problematic and where bins are located in New West.

“While I think this is a very serious issue, I also don’t want to have a kneejerk reaction and remove every bin if they are not problematic,” she said. “I think it would be helpful to know from staff where the bins are, if they are on private property, what is the city’s role in that situation and how we can move forward to make sure this is also not a really negative impact on the local charities and organizations that rely on this kind of donation.”

Coun. Patrick Johnstone said it’s easy to have a kneejerk reaction in response to concerns associated with some of the bins, but he doesn’t want the city to make the situation worse for social service agencies and non-profits that rely on the donation bins if they’re not a public safety risk. He added that staff need to be able to act quickly if any specific public safety hazards are addressed.

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.”