Charity Watchdogs Launch Effort To Curb Tennessee’s Rogue Donation Bins

The state is asking for help with a new potential scam, but it isn’t your everyday kind of crackdown.

Tennessee passed a new law to regulate those big metal donation bins that nonprofits and thrift stores use to gather clothing, shoes, and other goods — you often see them in parking lots.

Starting this month, any place that uses a collection bin is required to post more information on it about where those donations are going. Secretary of State Tre Hargett said it’s a move toward transparency after what had been a kind of Wild West of collection bins.

“We found that there were donation bins around the state that when you went to who owned the property, they had no idea how the bin got there,” Hargett said.

Bins must be emptied every two weeks — under threat of penalty. And bin operators must get permission for placement from property owners.

It’s all explained in a slick video that Tennessee rolled out about the new rules:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvX-1wneMvo

Officials are also touting a new hashtag, “bincheck.” They want people to photograph bins that aren’t clearly labeled and to let officials know through social media.

The hashtag hasn’t exactly gone viral. But the campaign is only 24 hours old.

Meanwhile, reports can also be sent to the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming by calling 615-741-2555 or online at sos.tn.gov/charitable/donation-bins.