Charity shop workers in Penrith are fed up with people dumping piles of “donations” on the pavement outside their premises, and say that this regular “fly tipping” is causing them a big headache.
Items left outside charity shops become damaged by rain, wind, and also attract vermin as well as vandals. Shops report having to pay to have the bags removed.
Staff at the Salvation Army shop in Queen Street say they have to send between 10 and 30 bags — which have been left outside — to the tip each week.
Shop manager Donna Brough said the problem is at its worst after the weekend.
“We are not open on a Sunday so then when we come in on a Monday, it is a case of there is a pile there,” she said. “The pile has either been raided, or it has been weed on, dogs have been on it and whatever. So we are having to come in with gloves on, and everything else, and it goes straight into the bin, because if it does smell, we don’t want it coming into the shop, and that is not nice for anybody. And if it has been bad weather it is soaking wet, so what are we meant to do with it? So it goes into rubbish bags and that costs the charity money to get rid of it. That is one of the things that is annoying. A lot of it is just dumped.
“It also looks terrible. It is also a case of respecting the town. It is just not a nice thing to do. It has a knock on effect — it is your business, it is the presentation of your shop, of your town. It is the impact on staff and your volunteers.”
Donna says her shop faces a daily problem with bags being dumped. The bags end up as landfill because the items are unusable. It is also a drain on staff and volunteer hours and costs the charity money that could be better spent helping vulnerable people.
“People need to bring it in between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday, that is our opening hours. Once it is dropped off at the front door we also don’t get the Gift Aid, and we don’t get to say thanks to the donor.
“We love the donations coming into the shop. Brilliant, that is what we want. Again, if it is left outside we just can’t use it.”
A volunteer at another Penrith town centre charity shop, also confirmed the issue is a massive problem. The lady, a retired Penrith business owner, attended her charity shop on Monday morning only to discover a huge pile of bags on the pavement, despite signs clearly stating donations should not be left outside the door and fly tipping will be reported.
“Organising the mess, she says, as well as being an unpleasant experience, is a drain on volunteers’ time.
“You have got to take them inside. It all has to go upstairs,” she said. “You have to sort it all out. And what is definitely happening is people give us rubbish because they cannot be bothered to take it to the tip. It is nearer to come to us to just drop it off. I have been around asking other charity shops. Do you have this issue? And everybody in some way shape or form is having to pay to take this stuff away. They all have this issue of stuff being left.”
The volunteer at the shop, which raises funds for a global charity, would like to see local charity shops come together to launch a co-ordinated campaign to highlight the fly tipping problems and drive forward good practices.
“The thing is, it is illegal as well,” she said. “If you spend the morning going through it, it is so time consuming. All that time has been wasted. You go in and you have 10 bags to carry upstairs. It also makes the town look shabby. Who wants to drive through and see piles of stuff?”
People have even been seen rifling through bags in the street, taking items out and even trying clothes on. One charity shop worker arrived one morning to find a double mattress on her doorstep.
Sarah Palmer, Oxfam area shop support manager for Cumbria, who was based at the Penrith shop in Devonshire Street this week, confirmed the issue is widespread, and also highlighted safety concerns.
“‘Please bring donations when the shop is open’ is the message. Obviously if it spills onto the street and if birds or vermin get into it, there can be a health and safety risk. You don’t know what’s been left. There is also the risk of breakages. It is the wind and the rain, especially in the winter months. You risk things being blown all over the road. If it is not taken directly into a shop it is classified as just leaving rubbish. All the charity shops have refuse collection costs, so it can hugely impact that.
“The health and safety of volunteers is paramount, as well as staff and customers. Although we are all blessed with our lovely donations, we do want to keep ourselves safe whilst we are handling things, so if it has been left on the street there is a chance of breakages.
“We want to sell lovely things and give things a second chance and give them a second home — things that are clean and saleable and can raise money for the charity. It is a win, win situation in that respect.”
