Knox Council cracking down on illegal charity bins at Boronia Mall

THIS small shopping centre in Melbourne’s outer east is home to at least a dozen illegally placed charity bins — and now the council is cracking down.

Charity clothing bins next to Liquorland in front of the multi-level car park entry at Boronia Mall. Picture: Stuart Milligan

IS Boronia the charity-bin capital of Knox?

It looks like it, with 12 clothing bins illegally lined up on Knox Council-owned land in the Boronia Mall carpark, outside Liquorland.

After inquiries from the Leader, the council revealed it was investigating after finding no permits had been issued for the bins, which support the Deafness Foundation, Young Recyclers, and Brain Injury (Vic) Foundation Inc.

The council has the power to fine each company $500 for placing the bins out without a permit. But no fines have been given.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Are the bins an eyesore? Tell us below

The council’s acting city development director Steven Dickson said the local law required companies to get a permit for placing charity bins on council-owned land.

“These bins have been placed at this location without permission and council is attempting to contact each company to request their immediate removal and has commenced appropriate compliance activities,” Mr Dickson said.

Mr Dickson said the council was concerned about the look of having 12 bins together at such a prominent location, and the risk of the area becoming an eyesore.

But he said it was becoming commonplace for organisations to put bins in public locations without permission, and it was an issue that was not isolated to Knox.

In instances where the council had issued a permit for a clothing bin, the company needed to maintain it to the standard as set by the local law, including making sure they were clean and tidy, he said.

Knox Leader attempted to contact the organisations whose bins were at the mall.

A spokesman from Young Recyclers did not wish to comment. The other organisations did not return calls.