(CA) Council bans (some) donation bins - the boxes are an "eyesore."

In a 3-2 vote, Alhambra City Council banned on Monday donation bins in the city after staff argued the boxes are an "eyesore." Starting Sept. 30, only nonprofit organizations that own property in Alhambra may place a donation box on their lot.

"Some [donation bins] are more maintained than others, but I've seen from every single company that certain locations do become messy, do become blights," said Assistant to the City Manager Chris Paulson.

Approximately eight for-profit and non-profit organizations currently operate 19 donation boxes in the city, according to Assistant City Manager Tara Schultz. These organizations contract with individual business owners to operate and maintain a donation box at each location, such as Kohl's on Fremont Avenue and Mission Road or Albertsons on Fremont and Commonwealth Avenue.

City staff presented during the meeting photos of overflowing, trash-filled donation bins around Alhambra. Arguing that the bins are often improperly serviced, Paulson explained that when city code enforcement officers see the overflowing bins, they are forced to hold the property owner or business manager responsible for the cleanup.

"I've heard many complaints from the Costco manager that he has to frequently come out and clean up this kind of mess," Paulson said. "He also frequently cleans up beer bottles, alcohol bottles that are shattered — not just left but shattered — and more so he cleans up human feces."

http://www.alhambrasource.org/news/council-bans-donation-bins