Dozens of charity collection boxes, seized for violating regulations and now cluttering municipal warehouses, are set to go under the hammer, a senior municipal official has revealed.
The decision to hold a national auction comes amid mounting complaints about illegally placed donation boxes blocking roads, blighting neighbourhoods and even posing a risk to stray cats.
Northern Municipality director-general Mohammed Al Sehli said municipal teams have been removing increasing numbers of unauthorised collection boxes from streets and public areas across the governorate.
“As we speak, more and more are being removed,” he told the Northern Municipal Council during its meeting at its headquarters in Budaiya.
“Our warehouses are completely full, and so we are arranging a public auction to sell the confiscated boxes.”
Mr Al Sehli explained that charity collection boxes are only legally allowed near registered charity society headquarters or on private property, with landlord approval and a licence from the Social Development Ministry. “Any placement elsewhere is not authorised,” he said.
“The municipalities are not responsible for licensing them – the Social Development Ministry is.
“We only act on instructions to remove road obstructions, eyesores and sources of insects and rodents.”
Mr Al Sehli said many of the boxes were effectively run by private companies rather than the charities themselves.
“Each box requires a licence, but many are operated by companies and placed randomly at street corners and along roadsides,” he added.
“Removal operations are continuing daily, particularly in the Northern Governorate, which is the most densely populated area in Bahrain.”
A box put in a residential area
He stressed that the primary lawful source of donations should remain collection boxes located at charity headquarters or approved private sites with official consent.
The auction date is expected to be announced once authorities complete an inventory of confiscated boxes.
An abandoned clothing box
The issue was raised by councillor Abdulla Al Qobaisi, who alleged that some contractors managing the boxes for charities were creating dangerous situations on busy roads.
“People stop on main roads with hazard lights flashing while throwing or placing donations into the boxes, raising fears that another vehicle could crash into them,” he said. “Those boxes obstruct visibility at intersections, distort the public appearance and create danger.”
Mr Al Qobaisi said the issue had been under discussion since 2023 with residents repeatedly calling for the containers to be removed.
He also highlighted the impact on stray animals.
“Cats have even made some of these boxes their homes,” he claimed. “Unfortunately, many kittens are killed or injured by the metal doors swinging shut.”
Northern Municipal Council chairman Sayed Shubber Al Wedaie said some charities were themselves unaware of where boxes bearing their names had been placed.
“There are societies that do not even know where their collection boxes are located,” he said. “In some cases, the boxes are handed over to contractors who operate them in return for a percentage of the proceeds.”
He added that the issue was difficult to regulate geographically because charities operated nationwide.
Technical committee chairman Jassim Hejres described the matter as chaotic. “The issue is loose and unregulated,” he said, calling for action.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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