Australian Op Shops Grapple with Unsuitable Donations: A Growing Crisis for Charities
Australian charity shops, often referred to as op shops, are experiencing significant operational challenges due to an influx of unsuitable donations, particularly following holiday periods. These issues range from general waste dumping and damaged goods to items infested with pests, leading to financial burdens, temporary closures, and a substantial volume of items directed to landfill. Charities across the country are requesting donors to be more mindful of the items they contribute, citing health, safety, and logistical concerns.
Operational Impacts and Health Risks
The Daylesford Community Op Shop in central Victoria temporarily closed and disposed of its entire stock in early 2024 after receiving a donation infested with bed bugs.
Michelle Clifford, a volunteer at the shop, reported that this incident is part of a broader pattern of unsuitable donations, which have included items such as dirty nappies, damaged goods, and human waste. A social media post from the shop in 2020 had previously highlighted the costs associated with inappropriate donations. The community responded by raising over $11,000 within a week to cover the shop's February overheads during the fumigation process, with the shop projected to reopen in March.
Volunteers in other regions have reported similar experiences. Kaye Littlejohn, a volunteer at a Leongatha op shop for over 40 years, has encountered unwashed clothing and deceased animals among donations. Sue Caldwell, a former op shop volunteer in Wonthaggi, reported discovering soiled clothing and malodorous pet beds, noting that unusable items were sometimes mixed with appropriate ones.
Specific Unsuitable Items and Waste Management
Charity organizations outline specific categories of items that cannot be accepted due to regulations or practical limitations. The St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) in the South West, for example, does not accept baby trolleys, helmets, car baby seats, microwaves, or electronics due to health, safety, and re-tagging regulations. Vinnies staff have also reported instances of general waste dumping and good donations being left outside full bins, which renders them unsalvageable due to exposure to the elements.
While some community-led charities may accept items that traditional op shops cannot, they also face similar challenges. Michelle Bordignon's Helping Hands charity in Griffith accepts mattresses, prams, and microwaves, but also discards unsuitable donations such as second-hand underwear, ripped men's work clothes, and items covered in animal fur. This charity has also experienced items being dumped outside its shed.
Landfill Contributions and Processing Capacity
Of the 310,000 tonnes of clothing donated to op shops annually, 14% — over 43,000 tonnes for 2024-25 — is classified as waste and sent to landfill.
Data from Charitable Reuse Australia indicates that this volume represents a significant environmental and financial burden for charities. While Vinnies operates a re/CYCLE program that transforms some unfit textiles into items like rugs and mats, this initiative handles only a small fraction of the unsellable items received. Despite these challenges, Charitable Reuse Australia states that the sector possesses the capacity to process a larger volume of appropriate donations.
Preventing Damage and Deterring Illegal Dumping
Overflowing donation bins frequently lead to items being left outside, exposing them to weather and making them susceptible to damage or rummaging. Richard Wood, head of retail for Australian Red Cross, identified water damage as a common issue, advising donors against leaving items outside op shops overnight. To counter illegal dumping and rummaging, some op shops, such as Anglicare in Wagga Wagga, have installed security cameras, which have been reported as effective in deterring such activities.
Call for Mindful Donations
Charities emphasize the importance of donors considering the suitability of items before contributing. Advice includes:
- Assessing if they would give an item to a friend before donating it.
- Ensuring items are clean, functional, and in good condition.
- Avoiding leaving items outside donation points overnight or when bins are full.
- Showing respect for the volunteers and staff who process donations.
The aim is to reduce the volume of unusable items, allowing charities to focus their resources on their primary mission of supporting communities through the resale of quality goods.