Charities report donors giving rubbish to their outlets 🙄

People use charity shops etc as dumping grounds when they can't be bothered to deal with their own rubbish. This has long been the case especially when leaving bags outside when the shop/charity is closed. Shameful.
I found the same thing on a smaller scale with the voluntary library I ran, people brought in books which had been in garages or barns for years and were damp, smelly and unreadable, even covered in mouse dropping. Usual comment was , well I don’t like to throw books away.

What a shame!
What is wrong with people?
I feel quite conscious of what I donate to charity, worried that it might not pass muster.

I have heard of this. I don't understand why people think charities want their stained t shirts and jeans with broken zips. Two of the things that were mentioned by the shops.

We took items to an Air Ambulance shop last week. The assistant insisted on checking the bag as "our disposal costs have gone through the roof recently".

It's just another version of fly tipping.

Ive been sorting in charity shops for over 10 years.
I think I’ve seen it all. Blood on underwear including the bra. Excrement, semen. Kitchen dishes with baked on food. Half full tins of paint. Hair brushes and Combes with hair in them.
We always know when the donation is from a deceased person.
They tip the whole contents from those kitchen drawers where everything is dumped 🤬

As an ex-charity shop manager, I'm gob-smacked by the amount of awful rubbish we get, even used nappies and other baby/kids stuff with puke and pee and poo all over them and various teen and adult clothing.

Various bedding and curtains ripped up, dirty underwear, things which are wet and/or slimy.

We've had dentures and false eyes, artificial limbs, even... ahem... ''adult'' stuff which included videos!

It's one of the reasons I quit that job!

I donate to two charity shops, before donating I always ring and check if they are selling in their rags. If they say yes I sort clothes out to wearable and non wearable to save them the trouble and mark the bags clearly.

selling on 😡 and I proof read 🤦‍♀️

We are in the opposite dilemma here.
We have no charity shops near us now and the one a few miles away closes soon.We put really good clothes in the containers at the supermarket and I don’t know what happens to them, I have heard poor reports.

AGAA4

I have heard of this. I don't understand why people think charities want their stained t shirts and jeans with broken zips. Two of the things that were mentioned by the shops.

They know the charities don't want them, and don't care. It's just a convenient and free way to dump rubbish.

I put worn out or torn clothes into the Salvation Army containers for rags, but I wouldn't dream of doing so without washing them first.

We donate regularly to two charity shops. Still have far too much stuff so donate almost weekly. On the last visit we were greeted with a big smile and a thank you - we know you don’t dump your rubbish on us. I was horrified to hear what had been left there just the day before. No wonder the sorters wear rubber gloves.

I really don’t get this.
Our black bins can take a lot of the rubbish it seems people are donating to charity. Is surely easier to dump it in the bin.
And though some charities might now insist upon going through bags as they are donated to check the contents it seems that some just fly tip outside the shop when it is closed. 😬

petra

Ive been sorting in charity shops for over 10 years.
I think I’ve seen it all. Blood on underwear including the bra. Excrement, semen. Kitchen dishes with baked on food. Half full tins of paint. Hair brushes and Combes with hair in them.
We always know when the donation is from a deceased person.
They tip the whole contents from those kitchen drawers where everything is dumped 🤬

Bless you for carrying on regardless. Though am sure some volunteers may not go the distance when they see the awful stuff arriving.

I drive to the back door of our CS then ask someone to come out and select what they want. Works well.

Fallingstar

I really don’t get this.
Our black bins can take a lot of the rubbish it seems people are donating to charity. Is surely easier to dump it in the bin.
And though some charities might now insist upon going through bags as they are donated to check the contents it seems that some just fly tip outside the shop when it is closed. 😬

In some areas, the bins provided for property residents are overflowing; particularly difficult for people who live in high rises or large blocks of flats where you can't tell who is dumping what in the communal bins.

My SiL volunteers in a charity shop, and she says the amount of rubbish they receive is incredible.
I took some bags to my local charity shop earlier this week, but I would never include broken, tatty or dirty items.

I take two bags most times, one for resale and the other they make money from weight. Everything is washed. I wouldn't dream of taking anything even if only worn once.

Last year I was close to a charity shop, saw a lorry arrive, off load bags and bags of stuff then drove off. I have no idea what was in the bags but the pavement was covered and the poor charity staff had to sort it.

butterandjam

AGAA4

I have heard of this. I don't understand why people think charities want their stained t shirts and jeans with broken zips. Two of the things that were mentioned by the shops.

They know the charities don't want them, and don't care. It's just a convenient and free way to dump rubbish.

It’s as simples that. 😥

Yep! We’ve had bags full of dirty, smelly, damaged, filthy, soiled, stained and/or covered in animal hair, shoes, clothing and textiles handed in.

Broken toys, rusted pots and pans, chipped mugs and plates to mention just some of the assorted delightful rubbish we have to deal with.

Some people are disgusting.

How foul. I hope the volunteers wear gloves when they are sorting through stuff. I haven’t heard of that happening here but I am sure it does. Just nasty.

Another volunteer here and I agree with everything said upthread from other volunteers.
It amazes me that people think we want broken toys or toys with parts missing . Some people think were their local tip .
The people who dump their rubbish on us , either dump and run out of the shop or put decent items on the top of the bag .
I’m glad I do an afternoon shift as I don’t have to wade through stuff left on the doorstep , which is illegal and is fly tipping. And often happens on a Sunday after a local car boot sale.
There has been several articles about this issue and charity shops , so I hope it makes people think before donating. Although when a donor says there’s good stuff in that bag , I know maybe about 10% is saleable . Cynical maybe 🤷‍♀️.

Probably the same people who offer free items on Facebook, often they ‘need a wash’ slightly damaged’ etc, most need dumping. I reckon they can’t be bothered to go to the tip,