Opinion: Give to charity properly - don't dump your junk

Dumping your rubbish outside a charity op shop forces the charity to fork out for dump fees, leaving them seriously out of pocket. Photo / Supplied

There's nothing better than a good old clean-out.

It's that time of year when cupboards get a doing over, kids clothes that have become pilled, stained or too small get hiffed and gardens get that much-needed titivating in preparation for summer.

Part of the beauty of spring cleaning can be passing on what you don't need to others.

Some choose to sell it online, and with Facebook marketplace groups this has become rather popular.

But often you get mucked around by buyers not showing up, or wanting to barter with your price - and for the sake of a few bucks - it can often be easier and much better for the soul to give your stuff to charity.

But some sods are taking the mickey out of charities' pleas for donated items and are instead dumping their junk at the doorsteps of those set up to help our communities.

These charities aren't being fussy, they are literally being used as a dumping ground for people who can't be bothered taking their rubbish to the tip.

The SPCA, Salvation Army and Hospice have told our newspaper they are being given things like old tyres, soiled and stained linen, filthy clothing, broken appliances, ripped and torn furniture and bits of old timber.

Surely the people dumping this stuff can't seriously think the charities will somehow magically turn these items into something sellable to make money.

In some ways, what's happening is worse than dumping the rubbish on the side of the road because the charities are forking out for dump fees, leaving them out of pocket.

Volunteers are also spending time loading trucks to the dump instead of packing up and dropping off goods people have bought them

The idea of giving to charity is to give. So give properly.