Clothing donation bins are beginning to return to the City of Delta.
Delta has approved the Securr-manufactured Green Inspiration collection bins and expects to do the same with other varieties.
Delta previously ordered all donation bins to be removed following the death of a person in West Vancouver who became trapped in a bin.
Hugh Davies, the city’s manager of property use, told the Optimist that five or six bins are now back, but as they’re not permitted on city property, he could not provide exact locations.
“We gave all the bin owners a notice at the time that council ordered the removal and stated that if the bins could be brought up to higher safety standards and certifications we would re-evaluate,” said Davies. “Green Inspiration modified the bins. They did their testing and we went out and looked at them and we gave them approval.”
Davies said Diabetes Canada also did its own research and its new bins will also be making their way back into the community soon, following Delta’s approval.
“A couple of other bin operators are waiting for their tests and information to come in so we can look at approving those as well,” said Davies. “We just want to make sure they’re safe and people can’t reach into them.”
Pavel Lalev, a manager with Green Inspiration, said he’s happy a solution has been found.
“It was a real problem,” he said. “We have been through at least five to six iterations and different improvements, reworking the locking mechanism, the chutes, all the different parts.”
He said the company started working with California-based Securr and came up with a design that makes it impossible for a person to climb into the bin or become trapped within the chute mechanism.
