The U.S. Postal Service is asking anyone who has possession of
its white postal bins to return to sender.
The U.S. Postal Service is asking anyone who has possession of its white postal bins to return to sender.
About 10 percent of the plastic bins – 10 million – are missing nationwide. The bins are commonly used to distribute large amounts of mail to businesses and are valued at $3.50 each.
However, the penalty for theft or misuse of the bins can be as much as $1,000 with imprisonment up to three years. The warning is printed on the bins in blue.
“Every once in a while I drive by and see one of the bins in somebody’s garage,” said Hollister Postmaster Judy Dunfield. “If they can return it, we’d love it.”
The Postal Service issued an “all points bulletin” last week demanding the return of the sturdy boxes and also offering amnesty to anyone in possession of the bins, which are government property.
The bins are especially needed now because of the upcoming Christmas season, the busiest time of the year for the post office, Dunfield said. With Christmas catalogues beginning to be mailed now and the influx of larger packages, more bins are needed.
“There are a lot of parcels being mailed and they take up more space, and we need more bins back so we can move the mail out at Christmas time,” Dunfield said.
The bins are supposed to be returned the day after they’re used, but instead are being used for storage, filing, recycling and even for planter boxes, she said.
Dunfield also encourages people to get an early start on Christmas mailing to prevent potential delays.
