Elk Grove Village OKs new rules for donation boxes
The Elk Grove Village Board Tuesday night approved new regulations for donation boxes, limiting their numbers in town and creating stricter guidelines for appearance, maintenance and placement.
The move was prompted after neighboring Schaumburg banned donation boxes entirely.
Elk Grove Village modeled its rules on Naperville's ordinance regulating the boxes.
Currently, there are about 30 donation boxes in Elk Grove Village, a majority of them belonging to for-profit groups.
The new ordinance requires individuals, businesses and groups to obtain a license to place collection boxes, which are permitted only in shopping centers, schools, churches and buildings owned and operated by not-for-profit organizations. Collection boxes cannot be placed along the front property line facing roadways and must not obstruct pedestrians or motorists. The boxes must be maintained in good condition without any graffiti, visible rust, holes or structural damage. Their size is restricted to 6.5 feet in height and no more than 20 square feet.
The yearly license fee is $250 per donation box with an additional fee of $200 for its placement, said Trustee Pat Feichter, chairman of the village's recycling and waste committee.
Groups are limited to having only one donation box in a shopping center location with permission from the owner.
Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson said he was concerned a lot of the collection boxes in town belong to for-profit groups that turn around and sell residents' donations to thrift stores. Those groups can afford to pay shopping center owners for the space to place boxes, whereas nonprofits may not be able to, he said.
“I would like the not-for-profit, charitable organizations to have the first crack at it,” Johnson said.
Officials agreed the village cannot restrict which groups get preference because even for-profit companies may give a portion of the donations they collect to charity.
Johnson said the village should encourage business owners who allow donation boxes on their property to give nonprofits consideration.
Feichter said even if the collection boxes belong to for-profit groups, they still provide a valuable service for residents by diverting clothing and other items from landfills.
Feichter said more and more textile collection boxes are popping up in town every day.
“Most of them are there without the permission of the owners of the shopping complex,” he said.
Feichter said residents have complained about the appearance of certain donation boxes in town because they overflow with items.
“Obviously, that does not look good for our community,” he added.
Per the new ordinance, all licensed collection boxes must display a village sticker on the front, and box owners must respond to any maintenance complaints within 24 hours of receiving notice from the village during weekdays and within 48 hours during weekends.
The village also has the authority to issue fines for lack of upkeep.
“If there's three or more violations, their license could be revoked,” Feichter said. “We have an entire penalty structure built into this (ordinance). We feel that this is a reasonable limitation and regulation on these boxes without going as far as Schaumburg that has banned them completely.”