Charity Dumping a Costly Problem

The Melbourne Cup long weekend will see an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) blitz on illegal dumping of rubbish and unwanted goods at local charities – a growing problem costing Victorian charities $5 million a year.

EPA CEO John Merritt says the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations (NACRO) for support to address a growing problem, which includes cleaning up everything from dead animals, broken bikes, old TVs and even bags of dirty nappies.

EPA Officers will patrol known dumping hotspots over the Melbourne Cup long weekend, from Saturday October 29 through to Tuesday November 1.

Merritt says up to 40 per cent of all donations left at charity bins or outside stores cannot be resold and ends up in landfills - costing charities in Victoria up to $5m annually.

NACRO spokesman Donald Munro says NACRO members’ value the generosity of the donating public however are increasingly being seen as soft targets for the dumping of unwanted household waste.

Munro says they urge the public to donate responsibly - that means providing good quality items during opening hours.

The EPA will focus on known dumping ‘hot-spots’, including large Salvos Stores at Abbotsford, Camberwell, Niddrie and Noble Park.

*Flickr Image:  Some rights reserved by Looking Glass