Clothing Donation: What really happens to old clothes dropped in collection boxes?

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While adding something new to your wardrobe, you may also find it necessary to get rid of some old clothes. Many in China like to drop them into special donation bins in residential communities, but do the clothes really find their way to those who need them the most? CGTN report Feng Yilei has this report.

Every week, when volunteers in red vests arrive at the green collection bins, it's time for used clothes to find new homes. For the problem of millions of tons of unwanted clothing that Chinese people discard each year, donations can be part of the solution.

SU XIN, STUDENT PHILANTHROPY SOCIETY, LIAONING TCM UNIVERSITY "Over 80% of what we collect today are good-quality clothes to be given away. And the rest can be smashed and fiberized to be used for producing stuffing of quilts."

But do all donations actually go to people in need? Evidence in the communities somewhat suggests it's not purely charitable.

ZHANG LI, DIRECTOR YUHONG COMMUNITY CITIZEN SERVICE STATION "Many have come to us for cooperation in placing donation bins, saying it was a big business opportunity. We turned down those that don't seem like charity people."

Going with the truck, we find the organization that these "red-vests" belong to, The Liaoning Loving Volunteer Association. In their warehouse, articles in good condition are sorted out, washed, and packed. And according to the manager of the organization, "they are ready to be sent to less developed or disaster-prone areas in southwestern China".

ZHU HAITAO, CHAIRMAN LIAONING LOVING VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION "Disguised profit-makers have raised people's mistrust of us, making our work harder and more tiring. We have to convince donators of what we are doing. Some charity-pretending firms even bribe community administrators to replace others' boxes with theirs."

Photos of rescue and relief work show that some of these clothes did bring smiles to many. But what worries some is that this charity is not properly registered. Simply put, these collectors are not necessarily regulated.

ZHU HAITAO, CHAIRMAN LIAONING LOVING VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION "I believe actions speak louder than a certificate. Yet I hope the government can standardize related regulations to supervise clothes recycling to help distinguish charitable groups from commercial ones."

Meanwhile, not all the donated clothes end up like that. Clues on some other drop boxes take us to the city outskirts, where we find several clothing sorting plants.

FACTORY MANAGER "I've told you it's used for making shoddy cotton."

"All come from downtown recycling spots. Go check them out."

Not long ago, local media in different cities found that used clothing collected in the name of "donations" was resold for considerable amounts of money.

Some top quality items are exported overseas to make even more. An industry whistleblower who chose not to be identified gives us some details.

MR. GAO "Who would do that if it's not profitable? I mean most of these bins are placed by fabric sorting, recycling and reprocessing companies."

As clothing waste continues to pile up across the nation, it calls on welfare organizations and commercial businesses to work together.

But disguising a profit-driven operation with a charity front, may harm donors and non-profits' willingness to do good. Feng Yilei, CGTN, Shenyang, Liaoning Province.