Following the holiday period, charity op shops report an increase in donations, many of which are unusable. Charities are requesting donors to be mindful of what they contribute, as a significant portion of items cannot be resold.
St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) in the South West does not accept items such as baby trolleys, helmets, car baby seats, microwaves, or electronics due to health, safety, and re-tagging regulations. Vinnies staff also report instances of general waste dumping and good donations being left outside full bins, rendering them unsalvageable due to exposure to elements.
Annually, 310,000 tonnes of clothing items are donated to op shops, with over 43,000 tonnes being unusable and ending up in landfill, according to the 2024-25 Charitable Reuse Australia Clothing Reuse Export Accreditation Scheme. While Vinnies operates a re/CYCLE program that transforms some unfit textiles into items like rugs and mats, this program handles only a small fraction of the unsellable items received.
Community-led charities often accept items that op shops cannot. For example, Michelle Bordignon's Helping Hands charity in Griffith accepts mattresses, prams, and microwaves. However, this charity also faces challenges with unsuitable donations, such as second-hand underwear, ripped men's work clothes, and items covered in animal fur, which are discarded. Dumping of items outside the charity's shed also occurs.
Overflowing donation bins lead to items being left outside, where they are exposed to weather and can be rummaged through. Some op shops, like Anglicare in Wagga Wagga, have installed security cameras, which have been effective in deterring illegal dumping and rummaging.
Charities advise donors to consider if they would give an item to a friend before donating it.