Op shops bear the brunt of dumping of unwanted items

Illegal disposal of unwanted items on the doorsteps of Auckland op shops is proving costly and it is impacting negatively communities in need.

To get rid of the goods left on their doorstep, op shops are spending up to $100 per case to dispose of them. This amount could provide meals to 50 families in communities.

Wairau Red Cross Op Shop manager Valentina Kartenko says that to get rid of unwanted goods, op shops must pay pick-up fees. Additionally, time spent sorting through the items is costly.

Eastgate op shop manager Tanya Van Staden says the dumping affects how much money op shops can give to their local church which provides meals to those in need in their local community.

“They [illegal dumpers] don’t see the bigger picture… if they do this to us we can’t use the money to help those out in the community,” says Van Staden.

With an average of one case per week, Auckland op shops mainly receive unwanted donations overnight or on weekends as people clear their households. Many goods are vulnerable to damage when they are left outside, making them unusable and unsellable.

Wairau Vinnies op shop operations manager Janet Lee says it is “very unethical of the public to behave like this when we are a charity organisation trying to feed those who can’t put a meal on the table.”

Op shop workers are urging genuine donors to donate their goods during shop hours to allow them the opportunity to see whether they are in good condition or not.