HARTFORD — The Department of Consumer Protection is reminding the public to do their research before donating to roadside charity bins.
Charity bins that offer a drop-off location for clothes and shoes are popular this time of year as winter inspires closet cleanouts and donations. DCP’s Investigations Division is investigating non-compliant charity bins across the state, many of which operate without proper registration and do not donate the items or revenue to charity as promised.
During the field investigation, the division found 120 non-complaint charity bins in Connecticut. So far, DCP has issued 23 tickets to companies for a variety of issues, including improper labeling, missing registration and lack of permission from property owners.
“Making donations through roadside charity bins may seem like a convenient and harmless way to make a donation to your community,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli. “Unfortunately, impersonators have started placing fraudulent look-alike bins around the state. They then sell the donated items instead of providing them to people in need and the proceeds go right into the imposter’s pocket. It is important to do your research, read the fine print and look for charity bins from reputable organizations.”
State law requires charities to obtain permission from the property owner to place a collection bin on the property.
The bin must clearly display the following information in block letters at least two inches high, on the side of the bin that the donation is likely to be made:
- Whether the collection bin is or is not for a charitable purpose.
- The name of the nonprofit organization that will benefit and if the nonprofit will receive a percentage of donated articles or proceeds from the sale of donated articles.
- Name and contact information of the bin’s owner.
- A notice to contact the Department of Consumer Protection for more information about charity regulation.
Consumers who routinely make donations to roadside bins should inspect for clear signage that states the charitable purpose, the company and Department of Consumer Protection’s contact information. For-profit bins often provide fewer details regarding the charitable purpose.
The Department of Consumer Protection may issue fines up to $500 for violations of the law regulating charity bins.
Bin companies with the most violations include:
- ACR Trading
- LB Trading
- Baystate Book Company
- AFAB Recycling
- God’s Hand YC LLC
To file a complaint regarding charity bins, visit ct.gov/dcp or email DCP.Investigations@ct.gov.