Charity collection bags – genuine or a rip-off?

Charity Bag Collections are not always quite what they seem. A recent check by Surrey Trading Standards found that collectors may get over £1000 per tonne for donated textiles, yet some donate as little as £40 per tonne to charity.

Help the Aged stopped issuing their collection bags 2 years ago, when the charity joined with Age Concern to form Age UK, yet bags with their name on are still being received.

Bags bearing the names of 34 genuine charities were identified during May and June this year, but only 5 charities actually make their own collections. There are also 27 registered commercial collection companies. Many collections were found to be unlicensed.

Although some commercial organisations do contribute generously to charities, donations made to charity shops benefit the charities much more.

Trading Standards are concerned that a large proportion of the public perceive these bags to be from a charity without reading the small print, when they may in fact be from a business cashing in on the profits to be made due to the price of recycled textiles trebling over the past 6 years.

Always check the details on any charity bag that is put through your door. If you are in any doubt, keep your unwanted clothes for a genuine charity that you know and trust.