Donating to op shops
Many op shops and charity stores in the shire rely on the generous donations from the community to support their organisations.
Residents want to show their support for these local organisations but if the correct processes are not followed it can create a financial burden on not-for-profit organisations and put a strain on volunteers.
Did you know that up to a third of items donated to charity stores are not suitable for sale?
Council has partnered with op shops and charity stores to combat the issues of dumping unwanted items and rubbish.
Every store is different with what they can accept, Council encourages all residents to check before you donate to make your donation count. We are #InThisTogether, so let’s free up op shops to help our most vulnerable community members.
Common items that can't be accepted
Tips for donating
Please make your donation count by following these steps:
Check with your local op shop or charity store for what items they are currently accepting. Remember every store is different.
Only donate items that are in good condition, undamaged and clean.
Leave items in designated drop off areas, during opening hours only (unless after hours donation bins are accessible.)
Do not leave donations outside where they can be damaged by weather.
This chart may be useful in determining whether you should donate an item or not:
Information and support for op shops and charity stores
Illegal dumping of unwanted items is a recurring issue for op shops and charity stores.This can cause strain on staff and volunteer resourcing and can create excess waste items that create a financial burden for the organisation. Neighbouring businesses and residents can also be impacted by these actions.
Some common types of illegal dumping that can occur:
- Intentional dumping of items that cannot be resold and may have been dumped to avoid disposal fees. Usually occurs outside of store opening hours.
Some common items include: mattresses, E-waste (electronic waste),damaged clothes, large furniture in poor condition, and general waste items.
- Non-intentional dumping where community members want to support local organisations through donations, but are unaware of what each store finds acceptable. Can occur during opening hours or after hours.
It is estimated that an average of one third of items people donate to charity stores are unsuitable for sale.
Council support for illegal dumping issues
Council can support you and the community by partnering with op shops to stop dumping of illegal rubbish and unwanted items. Research shows that collaboration between charity stores and Council is a key factor in the prevention of illegal dumping.
Support can be provided by our Resource Recovery Team through some of these measures:
- Increased signage
- Security cameras in common illegal dumping hot spots
- Tools and resources, such as posters and flyers
- Tip passes for Council transfer stations to dispose of illegally dumped materials
- Patrolling of site to issue warnings and increase awareness of regulations
What to do if you experience illegal dumping?
Refer to the Litter Prevention Kit(DOCX, 3MB) /Litter Prevention Kit(PDF, 1MB) for information and resources to compile a dumping assessment and plan.
Call us on (03) 5422 0333 with your store’s details and a member of our Resource Recovery Team will contact you to discuss how we can best support you.