North Geelong charity shops, bins become major dumping ground

Illegal rubbish dumpers are on notice following reports of mountains of clothes dumped outside a North Geelong charity shop.

Rubbish dumped outside the Salvos North Geelong. Picture: Mark Wilson

Security cameras and foot patrols are being deployed across some Geelong op-shops and charity bin locations amid a reported rise in illegal rubbish dumping.

The entrance to the Salvation Army’s North Geelong store was piled high with donated clothes and toys on Monday, with many items strewn across the nature strip.

Pictures taken at Bellarine Village Shopping Centre on January 1 also showed bags of items piled outside already full charity bins.

City of Greater Geelong Councillor Anthony Aitken said the dumping of rubbish outside charity shops was a “major problem”.

“Dumping at charity shops across Geelong is an ongoing problem, but especially at The Salvos in Thompson Rd during the holiday period,” Mr Aitken said.

“It has peaked when people clean out their houses.”

He said the issue prompted council to introduce two free hard waste collection per year in the region about four years ago as an alternative way for people to dispose of unwanted items.

“Sadly, it is still a major problem,” Mr Aitken said.

“Council has also installed signs to advise people there is a waste transfer station in North Geelong, signs warning it is illegal to dump at these sites and council is policing some sites with CCTV and security patrol surveillance.”

Rubbish dumped outside the Salvos North Geelong. Picture: Mark Wilson

Mr Aitken said council was also working closely with charity stores to help curb the problem.

Charitable Recycling Australia chief executive officer Omer Soker called on donors to engage in “responsible donating”.

“It’s about responsible donating, with a message that if you wouldn’t give it to a friend, please don’t give it to charity,” Mr Soker said.

“Remember to donate instore or inside a charity bin, never outside where the donations may get soiled by weather or tampering.”

He said that anything that was stained broken, torn or worn could not be used and should not be donated.

But, Mr Soker said a recent Charitable Impact Study found 86 per cent of all donations received by more than 3000 charity shops across Australia were used.

He said Australia’s charity shops diverted more than a million tonnes of household goods from landfill and saved 880,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

The Salvation Army did not directly response to request for comment, instead directing the Geelong Advertiser to Charitable Recycling Australia.

Originally published as North Geelong charity shops, bins become major dumping ground