Dumping isn’t giving campaign ramps up

Have you recently visited one of our local charity shops and received a “Give good or bin it” bag? Or maybe you have noticed the “Dumping isn’t giving” posters in the bus stops around Cessnock? 

In an effort to reduce illegal dumping on charity operations, Cessnock City Council has teamed up with local charities and launched an education and surveillance campaign. Under the campaign, surveillance cameras have been installed at local op shops and messaging about donating responsibly has been included on signs, posters and bags. 

If you haven’t heard already, Cessnock has a problem. Our local charities face illegal dumping on a daily basis with items left either outside premises or beside charity bins. Charities also deal with “donations” that are undoubtedly not suitable for sale. The efforts needed to deal with the unusable “donations” takes away valuable time and resources from volunteers. Currently approximately 10% of the items left to charities are suitable for resale.  The rest is sent to impoverished communities overseas or is taken to landfill. This work is all at the expense of the charity shops and impacts funds that would otherwise help local families in need.

  Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent said he hopes the campaign will encourage people to think more carefully before donating. 

“If you are unsure about whether your donations are of saleable quality, please go into the op shops and ask if the item is wanted. A bit of extra care and effort from everyone in the community can make this issue a thing of the past.”

This campaign was developed to start a conversation. Local charities play a vital role in our community helping people in need. As a community we have a responsibility to ensure they can continue their vital work by responsibly disposing of, donating or gifting the items we no longer want. To find out more about the impacts of illegal dumping and what you can do about it visit www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/environment/illegaldumping.

 5/1/2019