Charity bins at Grovedale removed after looking ‘absolutely disgusting’

A charity bin site at Grovedale has recently been removed after looking ‘absolutely disgusting’ for weeks.

Charity bins at Grovedale. Picture: Supplied

A Grovedale woman living near a charity bin site described the area as “absolutely disgusting” and overflowing with “household waste”.

Cath Fisher said the bins, on a vacant lot at the corner of Reserve Rd and the Surf Coast, were installed in November.

Ms Fisher made a complaint to the City of Greater Geelong.

Several hours after the Geelong Advertiser inquired about the state of the site the bins were removed.

Ms Fisher said before their removal the bins had been overflowing for weeks.

“People are just dumping all sorts of rubbish. There are garbage bags full of household waste,” Ms Fisher said.

“The bins are obviously full, and people are just dumping bags of household rubbish.

“It’s been there for less than a month, and it’s just filth.

“This is definitely unsightly. There was half a trailer there the other day,” she said.

The Charity bins on the corner of Reserve rd and Surf coast hwy Grovedale have been removed . Picture: Mark Wilson

Ms Fisher said people were leaving rubbish at the bins at midnight and feared if they weren’t removed they would continue to overflow.

“In a couple of days it’s going to be chockers (sic) again. It’s been like that since they put them there and the rubbish has been spewing out all over the ground and halfway up the bins.

“It is unsightly, and it will attract unwanted vermin. It’s going to attract rats, it’s going to devalue people’s properties,” she said.

Geelong Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken said charity bins are the responsibility of the charity named on the bin.

“When a bin is overflowing and donated goods are piled up around a bin, if Council receives a ratepayer complaint Council will classify the goods as waste and will schedule waste collection,” Mr Aitken said.

“Council works with local charities to encourage people not to dump the goods if a bin is overflowing,” he said.

At some sites around Geelong that have regular dumping Council have installed CCTV to pass on evidence to police as dumping goods at overflowing bins is considered littering.

Originally published as Charity bins at Grovedale removed after looking ‘absolutely disgusting’