Mountains of rubbish are piling up outside charity shops in affluent Sydney suburbs as residents declutter during the coronavirus lockdown. St Vincent de Paul in Mosman was inundated with donations over the Easter weekend, with clothing, suitcases, toys and furniture dumped on the road behind the store.
The charity now faces a bill for the cleanup, as many stores are closed or operating reduced hours due to COVID-19. Omer Soker, CEO of NACRO Incorporating Zero Waste Network, said charities must pay waste contractors to take the dumped goods to landfill, costing them money that could otherwise support vulnerable people.
Charity shops typically generate $550 million annually through sales, but reduced hours are cutting funding for support packages. The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority confirmed that leaving goods outside stores is illegal dumping, punishable by significant fines.
Research shows 40% of donors are 'model' donors, 50% are well-intentioned, and 10% use charity stores for waste disposal. Mr Soker urged residents to donate responsibly and not leave items outside closed shops.
Similar dumping has occurred in Bondi Beach and Waverley, with residents calling the behaviour 'selfish' and demanding CCTV to catch offenders. A sign at the Mosman Vinnies store asked donors to use charity bins or wait until reopening.
