2011 Missouri Revised Statutes
TITLE XXVI TRADE AND COMMERCE
Chapter 407 Merchandising Practices
Section 407.485. Donations of unwanted household items, collection of deemed unfair business practice, when.

407.485. 1. It shall be an unfair business practice in violation of section 407.020 for a for-profit entity or natural person to collect donations of unwanted household items via a public receptacle and resell the donated items for profit unless the donation receptacle prominently displays a statement in bold letters at least two inches high and two inches wide stating: "DONATIONS ARE NOT FOR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND WILL BE RESOLD FOR PROFIT".

2. It shall be an unfair business practice in violation of section 407.020 for a for-profit entity or natural person to collect donations of unwanted household items via a public receptacle and resell the donated items where some or all of the proceeds from the sale are directly given to a not-for-profit entity unless the donation receptacle prominently displays a statement in bold letters at least two inches high and two inches wide stating: "DONATIONS TO THE FOR-PROFIT COMPANY: (name of the company) ARE SOLD FOR PROFIT AND (% of proceeds donated to the not-for-profit) % OF ALL PROCEEDS ARE DONATED TO (name of the nonprofit beneficiary organization's name)."

3. It shall be an unfair business practice in violation of section 407.020 for a for-profit entity or natural person to collect donations of unwanted household items via a public receptacle and resell the donated items, where such for-profit entity is paid a flat fee, not contingent upon the proceeds generated by the sale of the collected goods, and one hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of the items are given directly to the not-for-profit, unless the donation receptacle prominently displays a statement in bold letters at least two inches high and two inches wide stating: "THIS DONATION RECEPTACLE IS OPERATED BY THE FOR-PROFIT ENTITY: (name of the for-profit/individual) ON BEHALF of (name of the nonprofit beneficiary organization's name)".

4. The term "bold letters" as used in subsections 1, 2, and 3 of this section shall mean a primary color on a white background so as to be clearly visible to the public.

5. Nothing in this section shall apply to paper, glass, or aluminum products that are donated for the purpose of being recycled in the manufacture of other products.

6. Any entity which, on or before June 1, 2009, has distributed one hundred or more separate public receptacles within the state of Missouri to which the provisions of subsection 2 or 3 of this section would apply shall be deemed in compliance with the signage requirements imposed by this section for the first six months after August 28, 2009, provided such entity has made or is making good faith efforts to bring all signage in compliance with the provisions of this section and all such signage is in complete compliance no later than six months after August 28, 2009.

(L. 2007 S.B. 384, A.L. 2009 H.B. 698)

Annotation Copyright Missouri Joint Committee on Legislative Research