Lots of waffle in this thread.
meantime, I have heard about another dodgy practice, and would be interested to know if there's any truth in this.

These bags that are posted through your door to collect old clothes, toys, whatever, with a charitys name all over them (NSPCC does it regularly) are actually just a commercial operation, sort of 'licenced' by the charity.

If I understand it, the operators just pay a cut of what they make to the charity. The stuff is recycled / exported / thrown in a canal. Suggestion is that the charity receive something like 5 - 10% of the proceeds.

Sounds iffy to me. I stopped filling the bags, I'd rather it went into a landfill.
(username failed moderation, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 9:01, 3 replies)

Says the bagman.
They are usually bundled as "rags"and sold (fairly cheaply) to industry.
AFAIK they are sorted, which means if you're a regular op-shopper - beware, you might be buying back that cool Star Wars embossed t-shirt that only fitted you 15 years ago.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Tue 28 Feb 2012, 9:13, closed)

Again, based on heresay
these are not old rags, they're asking for good quality clean stuff.

It gets exported to places like Nigeria, and sold there. Not as rags.

They don't just ask for clothes. It's toys, shoes, small electrical appliances.

I could be completely wrong, but it sounds more than feasible.
(username failed moderation, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 9:37, closed)

Furry muff.
I think what I suggested happens here in Oz. I don't have any "inside knowledge".
So yeah - based on hearsay.
But having worked in a couple of places that bought rags off charities, rest assured that some pimply-faced teenager wont be buying your favorite Dr. Who t-shirt just 'cause it's cool.
EDIT: Over here it's illegal for then to accept *any* electrical goods - they can't test and tag them so they cannot sell them as safe. Even in Nigeria!
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Tue 28 Feb 2012, 10:42, closed)

The Sally Ann got a bit of well-merited stick for this
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8293443/Charity-Commission-examines-Salvation-Army-clothes-recycling-scheme.html
(ubergeekian, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 9:35, closed)

Yes it is true and it's a good idea to donate your bagged-up stuff directly to charity shops, instead

(IHateSprouts is baking a huge pie shaped like an enormous pie, Tue 28 Feb 2012, 16:25, closed)