Back in February I wrote a blog post about Campus California and their clothing donation boxes around the Bay Area.  In 2011 the Richmond based nonprofit collected over 3000 tons of donated clothing.  These clothes were then donated to needy communities.  Not only that, the reuse of 3000 tons of clothes translated to saving over 12 tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.

The success of the Campus California program is linked to the easily accessible clothing donation boxes placed in the parking lots of local businesses.  If people need to get rid of clothes, all they need to do is find a conveniently located box and put their clothes inside.  However, the City of San Pablo is in the process of passing legislation that would require Campus California to pay a fee of $1000 for every box they want to have accessible in the city.  This calculates into $15,000 dollars the nonprofit would have to pay.

Unfortunately, this prices Campus California out of the market and if the legislation passes, they will have to remove all the boxes from the city.  This also means that clothing will no longer be donated to the city and clothes will be harder and less convenient to donate.  Meaning more clothes end up in landfills and less people in need get clothing.

Campus California’s Public Relations Director, Julie Wedge, commented, “I have been attempting to offer two language changes that would alleviate the problems with this regulation. However with no communication from the Council members it looks like we will be forced to remove our boxes. We encourage residents and recyclers alike to tell the San Pablo City Council to rethink and revise this move.”

Thanks to CCTG.org for the photos.