Salvation Army op shop workers 'disgusted' at rubbish dumping

Salvation Army donation bins outside the charity’s headquarters in Mundy Street, Bendigo, were strewn with unusable household trash on Monday morning.  

Michael and Jessica Johnston, who were tasked with transporting the unwanted waste to the Eaglehawk landfill, said they were called to the site at least twice every week, taking about two trailer loads of trash each time.  

The pair previously collected rubbish from around the bins just once a week, but said the problem had grown worse in the lead-up to Christmas.

Among the items left for Mr and Ms Johnston to clear were jam jars, pizza boxes with food still inside and used nappies. 

Mr Johnston said he felt sorry for the Salvation Army op shop on Eaglehawk Road responsible for the bins because it had to cover the cost of disposing waste at the tip.

“It’s disgusting, and it’s absolute filth,” he said.

“There’s probably 10 ladies that work up at that op shop who feel like their work is for nothing. 

“They feel like they’re working for this, rather than helping people in need.” 

John Tatti, who runs the Eaglehawk Road store and empties the donation bins before Mr and Mrs Johnston clean up, said he estimated the cost of rubbish disposal at about $200 a week. 

He said the site was not only plagued by rubbish dumping, but also by thieves who picked through bags looking for salvageable goods.

“A lot of bags of good stuff get ripped open, and strewn through the dirt,” he said.  

Ms Johnston was also worried about looting, saying there was a health risk if donated goods were left open in wet or hot temperatures.

She said Mr Johnston contracted school sores on his face last year and blamed the condition on handling soiled nappies and mattresses left outside the bins.  

But the problem was not restricted to just Salvation Army bins. Mr Johnston also volunteers for Bendigo Uniting Care and said their donation sites were experiencing the same problem. 

The Bendigo Advertiser received this photo on Sunday night taken outside the Vinnie’s store on Chapel Street that shows dozens of garbage bags waiting to be sorted. 

It is unknown whether the bags’ contents was trash or treasure, but volunteers at the store today said there was often unusable waste left outside the store.  

A spokesperson for St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria would not confirm if trash was left at the site, instead saying the charity was “extremely grateful for all donations we receive, no matter how big or small”.

“It is our preference that donations are left at the store during business hours, rather than outside where they may be exposed to weather conditions and potential theft,” the spokesperson said. 

Misuse of donation bins had resulted in their removal in the past, they said. 

But Eaglehawk Road op shop worker Diane McGillivray said donors needed to realise not all unwanted goods were worthy of handing over.

“If you wouldn’t buy it, don’t leave it,” she said.