Giving away used clothing for a second life feels like an act of charity – and it often is. But it has become more complicated.
A W5 investigation has uncovered allegations that organized crime players are tapping legitimate charities to gain access to their surprisingly lucrative clothing donation bins.
Some of them, according to police reports and court records, may be willing to use violence against their rivals to get that clothing money.
At stake are tens of millions of dollars worth of clothing that can be resold or in some cases exported to the international market.
How can you know if your clothes will support good causes – or ultimately fuel organized crime?
1. Consider donating directly
Give your clothes directly to people you know are in need.
The lock is cut off a ‘rogue’ bin in Markham, ON. The City of Markham removes and destroys trash bins without a permit in their jurisdiction. (November 2023 W5 Kirk Neff
Or take your reusable clothing to a local homeless or women’s shelter.
2. Check the charity
Check the trash for a 9-digit Canada Revenue Agency registered charity number. If there is a number, go to this site and search the CRA’s registry. Make sure to click the drop-down menu and select ‘All’ for the status to see if it’s revoked or if there are any other issues. Some charity numbers on bins are fake or no longer active.
A trash can with the Canadian Community Support Foundation logo and the CRA charity number. Be sure to check the information on the container. A search of their name or charity number on the CRA website (select ‘all’ for status) indicates that their charity status has been revoked. (January 2024. W5 Joseph Loiero)
If a bin doesn’t have a charity number at all, that’s a potential red flag.
3. Know before you go
Some cities have been actively cracking down on the seedy side of clothing donation bins, including Markham. That city offers an extensive website with the locations of waste bins and who is behind them.
The same goes for Diabetes Canada – they have a cross-country map that can lead you to their garbage bins.
4. Call the charity
Genuine charities are often happy to inform you about their activities by telephone or through annual reports. If a number on the bin doesn’t go through, or worse, doesn’t seem to exist, it can be a cause for concern.
Call the number on the box. If the number is out of service, that’s another red flag.
5. Demand action
In some cities, clothing donation bins are highly regulated and these regulations are regularly enforced. In other countries, the rules are not enforced or do not exist, allowing anyone to put a bin anywhere. Communicating with your local representative can encourage action from regulators and keep rogue players in check.