Ordinance would regulate donation bins

PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) - The Portage City Council adopted an ordinance Tuesday night which will regulate clothing donation bins to make sure that your donations go to legitimate charities.

Portage authorities have counted 25 bins in their city. Some are across the street from City Hall.

"It really started about a year ago," Portage Mayor Peter Strazdas explained. "Many started to pop up in the City of Portage. In the last two years, it's been doubling in size."

People began to wonder if there were too many bins and whether unkept bins were negatively affecting the appearance of the town.

"I don't think there's a lot of complaints, but a lot of questions," Strazdas said.

So the City crafted a new ordinance requiring businesses and charities that collect used clothing to get a city permit. They will also have to prove they have permission from property owners to put out a bin.

The proposed ordnance would also require bin owners to keep them clean and tidy.

The ordinance also makes a point of something discovered in a November 2012 Target 8 investigation: Some of the bins are not operated by charities, but instead by private companies in the used clothing business who take advantage of current high prices for used clothing and donate only a little to charity -- if they donate anything at all.

The ordinance requires the bins be labeled whether they are run by a charity or a for-profit company.

"We want to make sure the business tells the public if these business are a for-profit or a not-for-profit. Be open. Be transparent. They're not donation, they're collection bins. And some of these are for-profit companies that collect clothes, books, shoes and I think they need to tell the public what their intentions are," said Strazdas.

Strazdas said the regulations aren't meant to stop bins from operating, but rather to make sure they are operating fairly.

"Nothing contentious with the regulations," the mayor said. "I think our citizens expect local government to take care of business and that's exactly what we're doing. We're finding fair rules, fair regulations. Making sure the aesthetics are not degraded with these boxes, making sure the business has an opportunity to do what they need to do."

The City Council voted 5-1 with one member absent to implement the new ordinance. It will take effect 15 days after publication of the vote.