Deaths Associated With Community Donation Bins: A Ten-Year Retrospective Review Describing Five Cases in British Columbia and Ontario

Abstract

Introduction:

Community donation bins have become more common in the urban setting over the past several years. Many nonprofit organizations use these sturdy metal enclosures for unobserved collection of various donated items such as clothing, books, and household items. Although the donated items are often of low individual value, donation bins may become a target of individuals in low socioeconomic situations seeking desired items for personal use or resale, or for personal shelter within the bin.

Methods:

To identify donation bin-associated deaths, we reviewed cases taken under the jurisdiction of the coroner for investigation in the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, Canada, over the years 2009 to 2019.

Results:

We present the circumstances and postmortem findings of five deaths that occurred in British Columbia and Ontario (Canada) between 2009 and 2019, wherein the decedents were each believed to have been reaching into donation bins and became caught within the door mechanism and died as a consequence of compression asphyxia involving the chest and/or neck.

Discussion:

Donation bins have the potential for harm when individuals attempt to access the bin contents through the entry portal. We advocate for greater attention and changes in the placement location and/or design of these potentially dangerous devices.