Title
Donation of Unclaimed Electronics
Action
Action:
Adopt a standing resolution approving the periodic donation of unclaimed cell phones and other electronics left on CATS property to The Charitable Recycling organization.
Body
Staff Resource(s)
Brent Cagle, CATS
Elizabeth Presutti, CATS
Explanation
§ Each year, approximately 1,000 cell phones and other electronics are left on CATS vehicles or at facilities and are never claimed by the owner.
§ CATS has an established Lost and Found procedure that manages such property. The key points of that procedure are:
- Owners have at least 30 days to reclaim lost property.
- Lost property is kept at the CATS Lost and Found in the Charlotte Transportation Center and may be reclaimed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- CATS maintains records for all lost property.
- CATS has signage posted on the CATS Pass App, public transit vehicles, at transit centers, on printed literature and at other high customer traffic areas indicating how customers can reclaim lost personal property, and that after 30 days, unclaimed property legally becomes the property of the city.
§ Pursuant to NC General Statute 160A-280(a), CATS seeks approval to donate, on a monthly basis, as needed, any or all unclaimed cell phones and other electronics to a non-profit corporation, Charitable Recycling Foundation, Inc.
§ The Charitable Recycling organization, dba The Charitable Recycling Foundation, Inc., dba RMS Foundation, Inc., is classified as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation.
§ In May of 2004, The Charitable Recycling organization launched the 911 Cell Phone Bank (911CPB) initiative to provide an ongoing and readily available source of 911 emergency cell phones and funds to meet the unexpected and urgent needs of participating law enforcement and affiliated victim services agencies.
§ The 911CPB provides a free service to individuals, businesses, and agencies across the country to securely recycle electronic devices that are no longer needed, or that have been left behind in lost-and-found or property-and-evidence rooms. Devices are securely data-erased and then donated to law enforcement and victims’ agencies to distribute to victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
§ Since 2004, 911CPB has been able to assist over 200,000 victims of human trafficking and domestic violence and have kept over 250,000 pounds of e-waste out of landfills.
§ The 911CPB partners with the American Public Transportation Association, Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, Utah Transit Authority, and Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Resolution