Home Affairs Department - Public Services - Community Used Clothes Recycling Bank Scheme

FAQs

What kind of used clothing items will be accepted for donation under the Scheme?

The following items are generally accepted under the Scheme:

Acceptable Items	Items not suitable for donation
Clean clothing (both new or used are acceptable) Footwear Handbags and bags Accessories (e.g. scarfs) Dolls in good condition	Worn-out or broken clothing Furniture Uniforms Curtains Used bed mattresses or bedding Used intimate clothing (e.g. underwear, socks or towels) Fur products

Note:

Accepted items may vary among different NGOs. If you have any question, please contact them for enquiry.
Please also make sure that except used clothing, other items should not be put into the banks, such as books, aluminium cans, waste paper, food, drinks and domestic wastes.

Is there anything I should pay attention to before donating used clothing?

Before donating, we shall be grateful if you would clean and pack the clothing. Please be reminded to check if there is any personal belonging left in the clothing.
Who should I contact if the banks are overflown, or if I want to make a bulk donation of used clothing?

All Scheme Manager NGOs will arrange regular clearance of recycling banks (at least twice per week). Please contact the Scheme Managers or participating NGOs to arrange clearance of the overflowing banks.

Some of our participating NGOs will also arrange pick up service for donation in large quantity. You may contact them directly for further information.
What should I do if I discover any damage to the banks or theft of donated clothes?

The Scheme Managers are responsible for keeping the banks in good condition. If you discover any damage to the banks, please contact them immediately so that they can arrange prompt repair or, where necessary, replacement of the banks.

On the other hand, please call the police immediately if you witness theft of donated clothes or criminal damage of the banks. Under section 9 of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210), any person who steals from recycling banks commits the offence of theft and shall be liable to imprisonment for 10 years. Under section 60 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200), any person who damages recycling banks commits the offence of destroying or damaging property and shall be liable to imprisonment for 10 years.
What should I do if I realise that some of my personal belongings are in the donated clothing? Can I get them back?

If you have accidentally put some personal belongings into the banks, please contact the Scheme Managers as early as possible. They will try their best to find your possession. However, as a rather large number of donated clothes are being processed, your items may not be successfully recovered. Therefore, before donating, please be reminded to check if there is any personal belonging left in the clothing.
How will the donated clothing be handled?

Used clothes collected from the public through the Scheme would first be cleaned and sorted. Generally, the Scheme Manger and the participating NGOs have already been cooperating with other NGOs and social workers. The collected used clothing will be donated to the needy and/or the socially disadvantaged groups. Some of the NGOs will sell them at a lower price through their own retail outlets. Some will be transformed to other products through up-cycling, or exported to the third world countries with a high demand for used clothing as well. Revenue generated through the Scheme will be used solely for the NGOs’ educational and publicity works.

We value the donated clothing. We will seek to ensure that the NGOs handle them with care and make the best use of them as far as possible.
What can the Government ensure utilisation of the donated used clothing?

HAD and the participating NGOs will strive to ensure that donated clothing items are fully utilised as far as possible. Even if the clothes collected look a bit too dirty, worn-out or shabby for re-use, the NGOs will try their best to clean them up and transform them into other products such as tote bags, book covers and rags (cotton clothes for industrial use).

We would like to encourage members of the public to make proper use of the "Community Used Clothes Recycling Banks". In particular, please do not put in dirty clothing, food items or rubbish into the banks or else all of the clothing items inside would be contaminated.
How to add New Location for Placing "Community Used Clothes Recycling Banks"?

Please contact us if you wish to suggest a new location for placing a "Community Used Clothes Recycling Bank" at your organisation/residential estate/shopping mall or property.