If you’ve ever done a wardrobe clean-out and felt that warm glow from donating your pre-loved clothes to a charity bin, you’re not alone. For decades, clothing donation bins have been familiar in car parks, outside shopping centres, and near community halls.
They’ve made it easy for us to give our old jumpers, jeans, and jackets a second life, helping those in need and keeping textiles out of landfills. But now, these humble bins are under threat, and the culprit might surprise you.
It’s not the clothes inside the bins causing headaches for charities and recycling groups. The real issue is what’s piling up outside them. Instead of just dropping off wearable clothing, some Victorians are treating donation points like a free-for-all dumping ground.
Think mattresses, broken furniture, bikes, scooters, and old rubbish. Despite clear signs warning that ‘leaving items outside of bins is an offence’, the problem is only getting worse.
Joe Carbone, chief executive of Southern Cross Recycling Group (SCR Group), said the situation is reaching a crisis.
‘We don’t have a lot of problems about what goes in, it’s really what is spilling outside of the bins that is completely inappropriate,’ he explained.
And the numbers are staggering: SCR Group alone collects around 1.75 million kilograms of illegally dumped rubbish annually in Victoria.
It’s the equivalent weight of more than 1,000 family cars, and disposing of it costs the organisation about $500,000 annually.
There are a few reasons why illegal dumping at donation bins is rising. For one, it’s easier for some people to offload their unwanted goods at a bin than to organise a council hard rubbish collection or pay tip fees.
There’s also a lack of awareness about what can and can’t be donated. While most bins are clearly labelled for clothing and shoes only, some people assume anything they no longer want is fair game.
But the consequences are severe. Not only does illegal dumping create an eyesore and a health hazard, but it also puts an enormous financial strain on the charities and recycling groups that run these bins.
With the Victorian Government recently increasing the landfill levy (the tax paid to dump rubbish at the tip), costs are only going up.
‘When you add that to our site fees, our permit fees, our disposal fees, it gets very close to where the charities were probably at 20 years ago, thinking “Is this worth it?”‘ said Carbone.
The domino effect
If the trend continues, many operators warn they may have no choice but to remove donation bins altogether. That would be a massive loss for the community and the environment.
Professor Alice Payne, dean of the School of Fashion and Textiles at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, pointed out that without these collection points, more clothing and textiles will end up in landfills.
‘That’s the last thing we want,’ she said.
It’s a classic case of a few people ruining it for everyone. The vast majority of Victorians use donation bins responsibly, but the actions of a minority are putting the whole system at risk.
What can you do to help?
If you want to keep clothing donation bins in your neighbourhood, there are a few simple things you can do:
- Donate responsibly: Only clean, wearable clothing and shoes should be placed inside the bins. If you’re unsure, check the signage or the charity’s website.
- Don’t leave items outside: If the bin is full, don’t leave your bags next to it. Take them to another location or try again later.
- Report illegal dumping: If you see someone dumping rubbish at a donation point, report it to your local council or the charity operating the bin.
- Spread the word: Talk to friends and family about the right way to donate. A little education goes a long way.
Have you noticed problems with illegal dumping at your local donation bins? Do you have tips for responsible donating? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Also read: Fed-up locals rally as illegal dumping trashes Australia’s bushland
