Charity dumping a waste, but environment still wins
The issue of dumping useless goods at charity stores is becoming an increasing problem – costing charities millions of dollars each year. But that isn't deterring a surge in people looking for unexpected treasure at their local op shop.
By KERRYN HILDEBRAND
Soiled diapers. Kitchen scraps. Stained clothing. These are just a few of the items that can be found dumped outside your local op shop on a regular basis.
Illegal dumping has long been an issue for charitable recyclers and op-shops, but over the last couple of years it has continued to increase.
Illegal dumping of materials at op shops accounts for an estimated 40 per cent of the material that charity recyclers send to landfill.
National Op Shop week is one initiative that aims to raise awareness for better reusing and recycling practices, especially towards Australia’s charity op-shops.
The annual event took place last month ago and was organised by charity organisation Do Something and the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisation (NACRO).
By contributing to charity shops across Australia, donators not only care for the environment but also help fund vital community programs, including welfare and accommodation services for those in need.
Jodie Woodburn, a representative from the Salvation Army, said one of the most important impacts of this year’s Op Shop Week was to increase awareness about the cost of dumping on charity retailers.
“The impact of out of hours dumping is incredibly costly to Salvos Stores and other charity recycle retailers,” she said.
“Each year across Australia, Salvos Stores spend approximately $6 million disposing of rubbish and unsaleable goods from our stores.”
The Salvation Army works alongside NACRO and other organisations such as St Vincent de Paul and Lifeline to generate awareness about charity recycle retailers.
NACRO is the peak representative body for charitable recycling across Australia and plays a key role in advocating and liaising with government bodies.
Martin Nordstrom, a representative from the NACRO association, says illegal dumping at charity retailers remains a key issue for the association, but suggests there are other factors at play.
“We actually saw a very dramatic increase in the landfill levy … from $9 per tonne to $44 per tonne over the course of 12 months,” he said.
“It is a market mechanism to essentially reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill and increase the amount of recycling rates across the state.”
Mr Nordstrom believes that although this method has done its job, it has also failed to take into account alternative methods that can be used to help curb the issue of illegal dumping.
“Enforcement plays a large role,” he said.
“If someone is dumping we need to document that and actually have them fined or prosecuted.”
Adequate infrastructure is another issue at the forefront of discussion surrounding illegal dumping.
“If there were more waste transfer stations available there wouldn’t be the issue of having to drive such long distances,” Mr Nordstrom said.
“Most rural areas also don’t have a hard waste collection.
“It takes away the opportunity if you want to easily get rid off a couch or some kind of broken piece of furniture, you can’t do that.”
Mr Nordstrom said site-specific initiatives could also help to decrease the amount of illegal dumping.
“Site-specific infrastructure can include things as traumatic as putting up fencing and benign as putting up signage,” he said.
“In terms of what is effective, fencing is by far the most effective small-scale infrastructure you can put in place.
“The second most effective is CCTV but only when combined with enforcement.”
Mr Nordstrom said illegal dumping also put a strain on the many volunteers who decide to donate their time.
“One of the biggest costs when it comes to poor waste disposal and dumping of waste on charities is that you are actually taking away from the genuine purpose of volunteers which is to be there to support the charity,” he said.
There are roughly 70,000 volunteers who support charity op shops across Australia, and the national op shop week also praises their valuable contributions.
Vicky Weatherlake, the organiser and operator behind popular I Love To Op Shop websites, said it was even more crucial for people to think about where their items came from.
“It’s all about being a thoughtful consumer,” she said.
“We need to see people thinking about their everyday choices.
“My own projects aim to ensure people understand the processes involved … even to see the disastrous impacts of things such as sweatshop labour.”
Ms Weatherlake runs one of the largest op-shopping Facebook groups, with users coming together to share their purchases from local op-shops.
The groups have grown in popularity over the last couple of years, with the page having a following of over 17,000 users, and about 8000 confirmed members.
She was recently nominated as the Victorian Ambassador for The Garage Sale Trail, which is another Australian initiative aiming for better waste management practices by organising large-scale garage sales around the country.
“Positivity is key,” Ms Weatherlake said.
“It is about demonstrating just how rewarding reusing items can be.”
