Mess sparks call to ban charity bins

Papatoetoe residents are so fed up with charity clothing bins being used as rubbish dumps, shelters for the homeless and free-for-all bargain bins that they want them banned.

The Papatoetoe Community Board has recommended the Manukau City Council ban the bins from all council land in Papatoetoe, board chairman Gary Troup says.

Resident Ann Doherty is delighted with the board's decision.

She says the mess surrounding the bins, especially in the Papatoetoe library carpark, is unsightly and unhealthy.

"Huge amounts of rubbish and different types of waste are frequently dumped at the bins including bed bases, furniture, tyres as well as general household waste. The bins are also frequently tagged.

"I am one of the people who opened my mouth about the bins but I know many people will reap the rewards if they are banned," she says.

There are 17 clothing bins in the library carpark alone and many others are scattered throughout the town.

Manukau city group manager of librarians Mirla Edmundson says librarians generally don't have any problem with the clothing bins.

She says if they are left untidy the call centre is phoned and the mess is cleaned up.

Mr Troup agrees the council is quick to get contractors to clean up the mess.

"But it's costly and they can't be there all the time."

There are plenty of secondhand shops in the region that people can donate clothes to, he says.

Council environmental health team leader Ian Milnes says the bins can be a focal point for the dumping of rubbish throughout Manukau.

Charities are required to empty the bins weekly, clean them monthly - including removing tagging - and are responsible for any other mess within a three-metre radius of the bin.

The bins serve many different charities including the Kids Foundation, the Child Cancer Foundation and the Heart Foundation.

Child Cancer Foundation chief executive officer Jim Barclay says clothing bins raise more than $150,000 nationally for the nonprofit organisation every year.

The foundation doesn't receive any government funding or funding from other cancer support agencies so it relies totally on the generosity of donations.

"Clothing bins are significant sources of revenue," he says.

Mr Troup says a clothing bin ban would only apply to council land.

- © Fairfax NZ News