What started as a frustrating search for a donation bin in 2019 has grown into Australia’s most comprehensive charity bin directory. Today, Charity Bins Australia helps thousands of people each month find the perfect place to donate their preloved items.
Here’s how we got here.
The problem we wanted to solve
Back in 2019, donating clothes and household items wasn’t as straightforward as it should have been. You’d drive around looking for a bin, only to find it overflowing. Or you’d wonder which charity operated that bin in the supermarket car park. Was there one closer to home?
We thought there had to be a better way. So we started mapping every charity bin we could find across Sydney and Melbourne.
November 2019: the launch
Charity Bins Australia went live in November 2019 with just over 200 locations across Sydney and Melbourne. It was simple: a searchable directory of charity bins showing which organisation operated each one and exactly where to find it.
The response was immediate. People were grateful to finally have a single place to find donation points. We knew we were onto something.
Growing across Australia
By August 2020, we’d expanded to cover all Australian states. What started in two cities now stretched from Perth to Brisbane, Adelaide to Darwin. Every week brought new locations as we partnered with charities and received tips from our growing community of users.
In April 2021, we added something new: furniture and household goods collection points. Not everyone knows that many charities offer free pickup for larger items. We wanted to make sure people could find these services too.
October 2021 marked a major milestone. We’d reached 1,000 locations in our directory. From 200 to 1,000 in under two years showed us just how much Australians wanted this resource.
Beyond the bins
March 2022 brought another expansion. We added op shops and retail charity store locations to our directory. While charity bins are convenient for quick drop-offs, op shops offer something different: the chance to donate directly, see where your items will be sold and maybe pick up a bargain while you’re there.
Later that year, we introduced suburb and postcode search, making it even easier to find donation points near you. No more scrolling through endless listings. Just type your location and see what’s nearby.
Reaching new communities
February 2023 saw us expand our coverage to Tasmania and the Northern Territory. These regions had been underserved, but we worked with local charities to map their bins and op shops. Now Tasmanians and Territorians had the same easy access to donation points as the rest of the country.
In July 2023, we added filtering by charity organisation. Want to donate specifically to Vinnies? Or find your nearest Salvos bin? Now you could search by the charity that matters most to you.
The 2,000 milestone
January 2024 was a proud moment. We’d reached over 2,000 locations in our directory. That’s ten times what we started with, covering every corner of Australia.
We celebrated by making the site faster and more mobile-friendly. Most people search for donation bins on their phones, often while they’re out and about with a boot full of items to donate. We wanted the experience to be seamless.
Partnerships and growth
November 2024 brought new partnerships with additional charity organisations, expanding our directory even further. We’ve always believed that the more options people have, the more likely they are to donate. Making it easy is what we’re all about.
March 2025 saw the launch of our interactive map feature. Now you can see all the bins and op shops near you on a single map, making it easier than ever to plan your donation drop-off. Check out the Sydney map or Melbourne map to see it in action.
In August 2025, we added over 500 new locations across regional Queensland and Western Australia. We know that donating shouldn’t be harder just because you live outside a capital city.
Where we are today
January 2026 brought a complete website redesign with improved search and a better mobile experience. We’ve also expanded our charity profiles with detailed FAQs and service information, plus added over 200 new Anglicare locations across New South Wales.
Today, Charity Bins Australia features:
- Over 2,000 donation locations nationwide
- 10 charity organisations including Vinnies, Salvos, Lifeline and Red Cross
- Coverage across all 8 capital cities and regional areas
- Interactive maps for easy bin discovery
- Detailed charity profiles with FAQs
What’s next
We’re not done yet. Our goal is to make donating as easy as possible for every Australian. That means continuing to add new locations, partnering with more charities and improving the tools we offer.
If you know of a charity bin or op shop we’re missing, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch and help us help more Australians donate.
Find your nearest bin
Ready to donate? Use our search to find charity bins near you, or browse by city:
Every donation makes a difference. Thanks for being part of our journey.
