BCC Work Session Donation Drop Boxes

Zoning Division BCC Work SessionDonation Drop Boxes October 22, 2013

Issues with Donation Drop Boxes Issue • BCC open discussion • Staff requested to examine and report • Proliferation of Donation Drop Boxes • Location • Rights-of-way • Roadway Corridors • Parking • Aesthetics • Safety • Purpose • Not regulated by County Code

Donation Drop Boxes • Also known as Donation Bins, Donation Collection Bins, Recycling Drop-Off Bin..etc. • Donation drop box is any receptacle used for the collection of used clothing, shoes, and small household items donated by the public for redistribution. • Mainly donation drop boxes encourage recycling of textiles. Textile recycling involves everything from reselling used clothes and shoes in retail stores, to baling them into half-ton packages, loading up cargo ships, and reselling them wholesale overseas.

DonationDrop Boxes • Issues with donation drop boxes • Examples of regulatory practices • Potential solutions

Issues with Donation Drop Boxes • Overflow of donated items • Violation of various site regulations • Deceptive Advertising • Hurricane Hazards • Unauthorized use of private property

Regulatory Practices • Palm Beach County • Prohibited • Miami Dade County • Permitted with standards, but only to non-profits • Collier County • Permitted with standards(non-specific), available to profit and non-profits • City of Orlando-In progress of considering standards

Potential Solutions Main options: • Prohibit completely • Permit with specific standards, available only to non-profits • Permit with specific standards, available to both profit and non-profits

Potential Solutions If option #2 is selected: • A requirement that proceeds of donation drop boxes be used in accordance with organizations charitable purpose and benefit person with the boundaries of Orange County. • If proceeds go outside of Orange County, they shall provide emergency relief for victims of natural, man-made or economic disasters. • Donation drop boxes are contained wholly upon improved property owned and operated by the applicant non-profit organization.

Potential Solutions Permitting standards: • Limit to commercial and industrial zoning districts as accessory use • Require property owner’s authorization • Donation drop boxes shall be structurally sound, clean, well-maintained and emptied regularly • Permit clearly displayed on front of container

Potential Solutions Permitting standards (cont.) 5. Location criteria: • Size shall not exceed an area of 20 sq. feet and 6 feet in height (maximum 1 box per lot) • Appropriate contact information, signage and disclosure information • Site placement- Must not be located in any required parking, open space, public right-of-way, or impede vehicular or pedestrian circulation, vision, or access to a site. • Permanently or temporarily affixed to the property as approved by the Building department to meet wind resistance standards

Next Steps • Coordinate with stakeholders • Coordinate with City of Orlando • Draft Ordinance • LPA Review • Public Hearings

Zoning Division BCC Work Session October 22, 2013

BCC Work Session Donation Drop Boxes