It was a complaint about graffiti that alerted Stephanie Kepecs to the business underway on her property.

Kepecs, who owns an Etobicoke strip mall on Browns Line, noticed the large, yellow bin in the parking lot when she went to check for the offending artwork last May.

According to the sign on the bin, it belongs to a not-for-profit organization called ECCA. “Helping the community one piece of clothing at a time,” it reads.

There’s a phone number and email address listed. Yet no one ever asked permission to put it there.

Kepecs estimated she’s called the number listed about 20 times, leaving increasingly frustrated messages. No response.

“They never answer their phone, they never return a call,” said Kepecs.

She began Googling the company and came across news stories from around the GTA. Same company, same bins. No clear idea of what E.C.C.A. is or does.

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Calls from the Star to the number listed were not returned.

The business of used clothing is hugely lucrative, worth hundreds of millions a year in Canada.

Many charities collect clothes that are sold at stores such as Value Village, with some or all proceeds going back to the charity. What doesn’t sell in Canada is shipped overseas to Africa or Asia where it’s often sold by the “bale” and peddled in local markets.

But private businesses have entered the fray, placing donation boxes to earn profits, often unbeknownst to those who think their old jeans are going to support a cause.

“What’s going on here is just not right,” said Kepecs.

Recently, the Canadian Diabetes Association contacted Kepecs about putting a donation box on the property. In contrast to E.C.C.A., the organization promises to service boxes daily if necessary, including providing cellphone numbers for area managers.

“This is interfering with charities,” said Kepecs. “I can’t get the Canadian Diabetes Association in there, which I would gladly support and the store owners would gladly support.”

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George Tsiambouris, co-owner of OBQ Burgers located in Kepecs’ mall, said the bin has sat near the entrance of the restaurant since he and George Karvelas bought the place 2½ years ago. They’re concerned, he said.

“We didn’t think anything of it, but apparently there’s been a lot of questions about it,” said Tsiambouris.

City council approved new regulations on clothing drop boxes last April that require operators to acquire a $100 permit for each box. Applicants must have authorization from the property owner and insurance, among other requirements. Permits must be clearly displayed on each bin.

People can report bins without a visible permit to the city’s 311 number, said spokeswoman Tammy Robinson. Officials will investigate and, if the bin indeed has no permit, the city will remove the bin and charge associated fees to the operator.