The ACT government will limit the number of charity bins in town centres, scrap charity bins in the suburbs, and will consider increasing fines for people caught illegally dumping.
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City rangers will also conduct blitzes on illegal dumping to reduce the amount of unusable material being left at charity bins.
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said the charity sector had agreed to a raft of measures as part of a pilot program to improve the management of charity bins. It follows two round table meetings with the city's leading charity organisations and calls for Canberra's 289 charity bins to be removed.
''Charity bins are a convenient way for people to donate clothing, footwear and blankets to people in need and they also provide a valuable means for charity groups to assist the local community,'' Ms Gallagher said. ''Unfortunately, an estimated one-third of material left at charity bins is unusable and is currently going to landfill, creating a burden on charity organisations and an eyesore for the local community.''
As part of the new measures, the location of charity bins will be restricted to town centres and a limit will be set on the number of bins permitted. Bins will be grouped together to allow for easy monitoring and a code of practice will be introduced for organisations who want to place the bins around the ACT.
Ms Gallagher said blitzes on illegal dumping would be necessary throughout the year and the government would consider increasing the fines for people caught abandoning unusable goods. Last weekend, city rangers issued five fines to people caught illegally dumping.
''I look forward to seeing the results of the pilot program and trust the community will work with us to help reduce the problem of illegal dumping around shopping centres and ensuring that charity organisations only receive those goods which can help those in need,'' Ms Gallagher said.