Privacy policy
Last updated Oct 26, 2026
This site is run by volunteer leaders of the scout groups that share Bottle Bins to track our recycling fundraiser: the containers families count, and each scout's share of the money. This page explains what we collect, why, and who can see it. We don't sell your information, show ads, or use tracking or analytics services.
What we collect
- Your account: your first and last name, email address, and whether you're a parent or leader. If you use a password, we keep only a scrambled (hashed) version of it, never the password itself.
- Google or Facebook sign-in: if you sign in this way, we receive your name, email address, and an account ID from Google or Facebook, and we keep the name, email and ID. We don't keep your profile picture, and we never get your Google or Facebook password, contacts, posts or other data.
- Scouts: each scout's first and last name, which parents are linked to them, and which group they're in and whether they're active. Scouts don't have accounts.
- Tallies and balances: the date, container counts, notes, which scouts and fund the money went to, and who logged it. Leaders also record spending and adjustments for each scout.
- Change history: a record of changes to tallies, spending, scouts, rates and accounts, with who made each change and when, so leaders can answer questions about balances.
- Password reset links: when you ask for one, we email you a link that works once and expires shortly after.
Cookies and your browser
We use one cookie to keep you signed in, for up to 30 days. While you fill in a tally, your browser keeps an unsaved copy on your device for up to 12 hours, so it isn't lost if the page closes. A tally saved without signal is kept on your device until it can be sent, and the tally form is kept so it opens without signal; signing out removes the kept form. Neither is used for advertising or shared with anyone.
How we use it
- to sign you in and keep your account secure
- to credit each scout with the money from collections, and to keep each group's fundraising records
- to email you a password reset link when you ask for one
Who can see it
- Parents see the balances and history of the scouts linked to their account, plus the tallies they logged or that include their scouts. They don't see other scouts' balances or a group's list of scouts.
- Group leaders can see everything about their own group (its scouts, tallies, money, and the parents linked to its scouts), to manage its fundraising. Master admins, who run the site for every group, can see everything.
- Service providers: the site and database are hosted by our web host, and password reset emails go through our email provider. They handle the data only to run those services.
Master admins also keep backup copies of the site's data in a private place, so it can be restored if something goes wrong. We don't share your information with anyone else unless the law requires it.
How long we keep it
We keep account and scout information while you or your scout take part in a group. Tallies, spending and balances are each group's financial records, so we keep them as long as the group needs them for its accounts. Sign-in sessions and reset links are deleted after they expire.
Seeing, correcting or deleting your information
Under My account you can see your details and manage your password and Google or Facebook sign-in. To correct your name or email, or to have your information deleted, ask a group leader. To delete it, a leader will:
- remove your name, email, password and any Google or Facebook connection, and sign you out everywhere;
- unlink you from your scouts;
- remove your name from the change history.
Backups made before then still contain your information until they're replaced by newer ones. Tallies you logged stay in the group's records so scouts' balances remain correct, but they will no longer show your name. You can also ask us to correct a scout's name or remove a scout who has left their group, subject to keeping the group's financial records.
Children
Accounts are for parents, guardians and leaders. Scouts' names and fundraising totals are entered by their parents or group leaders, and only that scout's linked parents, their group's leaders and master admins can see a scout's balance.
Security
The site uses encrypted connections (HTTPS), stores passwords only in hashed form, and limits repeated sign-in attempts. No system is perfectly secure, so please use a password you don't use elsewhere.
Changes
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top of this page.
Contact
Questions? Ask a group leader.