More people are using Rotorua's op shops as a dumping ground for their junk, one store manager says, with items such as dirty needles, soiled mattresses, filled nappies and a squashed, dead rat being left at store doors overnight.
Lisa Fraser, manager of The Salvation Army Family Store on Pukuatua St, said staff had to make at least three trips a week to the dump due to the high amount of rubbish being left at their doors.
"We get rubbish dumped at our store every day. Anything from dirty, soiled mattresses to household rubbish, ripped, smelly clothing and couches half eaten by rats.
"It is unfortunate for us because we are having to spend money on going to the dump instead of pouring it back into the community but we understand that there are two sides to every story and the likelihood is the people who dump their rubbish to us probably can't afford to take it to the dump."
Ms Fraser said while rubbish dumping was an ongoing issue, donations of clean, worthy items made the job worthwhile.