Data sources and methodology
How this directory collects, publishes, ranks and corrects clothing donation location records.
Current coverage
This directory currently publishes 27,036 public records: 18,602 unattended bins and 8,434 stores or donation centres, across 6,716 city labels and 63 provinces or states.
Important: a directory record is not automatically a verified record. Source and confirmation status are shown only when supporting evidence exists.
Where records come from
Locations may enter the directory through public datasets, an operator-supplied file, an organization website, a community correction, or direct operator confirmation. Each durable source is being moved into a structured source catalogue with its URL, rights basis, retrieval date and refresh schedule.
22,900 public records currently retain a first-party operator locator URL and retrieval date. The remaining 4,136 records stay explicitly unconfirmed.
Source-linked means traceable, not independently operator-confirmed. Per-operator commercial-rights review is still pending, so these links are kept separate from the stronger operator-confirmed status.
How pages are published
- Only active, public, geocoded records can appear in geographic pages.
- Street-address-shaped city labels and other malformed geography are excluded from the search sitemap.
- City and neighborhood pages need at least two locations to be submitted for indexing. Smaller facets remain usable through the finder and parent pages.
- The sitemap is generated from a materialized publish manifest, not directly from every raw row.
- Nearest results are ordered by distance. Any paid placement must be labeled “Sponsored” and kept separate from the neutral nearest set.
What the data does not guarantee
Access hours, accepted items, ownership and on-site conditions can change without notice. “24/7 bin” describes the location type, not a guarantee that a property owner has left it accessible at every moment. Stores should be checked against posted hours.
We do not infer charitable status from a name. Organization type and charity registration are published only when separately supported.
Corrections and review
Use the report control in the directory to flag a missing, moved or incorrect location. Reports enter a moderation queue; they do not rewrite a public record automatically. Operators can also request control of their records through the claim workflow.