During the Christmas holiday period, it used to cost The Salvation Army $500 a week in rubbish removal fees after people dumped their unwanted goods outside charity stores or donation bins – and it’s the same problem for many local charities. 

So, this year The Salvation Army have made a few changes and Pastor Phil Sutcliffe is asking people to hang onto their goods for donation until charity stores reopen on January 11.

“It used to be a major issue in the past because every day while we were closed, the manager had to come in to tidy up what was left on the street and the empty bins,” he said.

“It was a costly exercise. On public holidays, people also go through what’s there and it ends up at the tip and that costs us money – up to $500 a week in rubbish removal fess. That’s money taken away from helping people in our community who are doing it tough.”

“Our staff need a break too. In the in lead up to Christmas we were innundated with donations – it’s out busiest period.”

Pastor Sutcliffe said the Salvation Army were one of the last charities to have donation bins in public places. He said the one they used to have at Southern Cross University was removed after discussion with the university, as it was in disrepair and maintenance costs from people dumping stuff were high.

So, while the closure period is in effect, he said the Salvos donation bin at the back of its charity store in Carrington Street will be closed and not available until January 11.

Hefty fines for illegal dumping

Lismore City Council has come on board to assist local charity stores and will be applying hefty fines if people are caught dumping.

Council’s Environmental Compliance Officer Stuart Thomson said fines of $4000 apply for any person found guilty of illegal waste dumping and Council would not hesitate to prosecute any person suspected of committing a waste dumping offence.

He said most charity stores in Lismore had 24-hour surveillance at drop-off points and Council would be using this as evidence after the Christmas break to prosecute offenders.

“Residents need to be aware that like the rest of us, most charity stores close for a well-earned Christmas break,” Stuart explained.

“Council is pleading with residents to keep the goods that they have set aside for charity donations until the stores reopen in 2021.

“If there is no appropriate receptacle to place your items in and you leave those items beside, on top of or nearby a donations bin, your actions may be viewed as illegal waste dumping.”

Stuart reminded people that broken and soiled items cannot be used by charity stores and donations should only be of clean and reusable items.

“Charity stores take unwanted items, not unusable items,” Stuart said.

“If it deserves to go to the tip, please take it to the tip – don’t make a charity store that is trying to help other people in need responsible for your rubbish. It costs them money and takes resources away from helping the most vulnerable in our community.”