New York, NY -The City Council has planned a September 8 public hearing during which it will consider a proposed bill that will allow the city the upper hand in removing illegal clothing bins that have been popping up at an alarming rate.
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NYPOST.com (http://bit.ly/1rIE609) reports that lawmakers say the illegal clothing bin problem has become almost epidemic, and records show that the city inspectors issued a staggering 670 violations last month, a stark departure from the 59 they wrote in all of 2009.
The problem, according to lawmakers, is that the owners of the bins drop them illegally on public sidewalks and parking lots, and even private property in the wee hours of the morning, and then take full advantage of the city’s 30-day removal grace period once tagged, with many waiting until the 29th day to move the bins.
The new bill would allow city agencies to remove the bins immediately once tagged.
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said, “This legislation will remove these eyesores from public locations and hold those who place them accountable.”
Why do they have a “grace period”. These trash containers on public property should be removed immediately. Virtually all the contents of these boxes never goes to the needy but is sold in huge pallets by the ton and sent to Africa and Asia.
The world is backwards. These boxes serve a purpose. Instead of throwing clothing away, you go to a box nearby. What do you care if someone makes a dollar, if somehow the stuff gets used or recycled isn’t that good? The boxes for many people are more convenient than shlepping out to some charity location. It would be better if they said it was profitable.