This is not charity. Dumping in Canberra

Seems to me there’s a number of overlapping problems, the people who don’t care and whose attitude towards charity bins is probably only part of their antisocial behaviour, the wasteful and inefficient system the charities are currently operating, the shortcomings of the government’s attempts to minimise what’s going into landfill

Horrible story murraythecat. 🙁

Genie’s got the beginnings of an idea. See that’s what’s needed, a few new ideas. Make the system work better for the people who want to see their stuff find an appropriate new home and decrese opportunities/increase penalties for the people who just don’t care.

I don’t think charities only being interested in money-making goods in order to fund their trips to the tip makes sense and I don’t think letting them dump it for free makes sense either, in fact it might make the problem worse.

The Antichrist said :

thisisnotcharity said :

……… but ultimately, it’s the dumpers that need to start “caring” about their actions……….

Time to wake up and smell the roses. These clowns are dumpers because they don’t care and never will. They are not going to wake up and change their habits, no matter how much we all would like them to.

While ever there are charity ‘bins’ in the ‘burbs – there will be lazy dumpers dumping.

This problem will become a lot worse, once the charities are no longer paying tip fees ! The dumping problem will probably multiply 10-fold overnight.

Get rid of the bins altogether – its the only answer. Anyone who wants to take the time to donate stuff to the charities, will take the time to drive to a proper collection point anyway.

thisisnotcharity said :

……… but ultimately, it’s the dumpers that need to start “caring” about their actions……….

I agree with The Antichrist 100% – and the space liberated will provide more car parking spaces. It is about time someone made a comment that faces the realities of human behaviour.

thisisnotcharity said :

……… but ultimately, it’s the dumpers that need to start “caring” about their actions……….

Time to wake up and smell the roses. These clowns are dumpers because they don’t care and never will. They are not going to wake up and change their habits, no matter how much we all would like them to.

While ever there are charity ‘bins’ in the ‘burbs – there will be lazy dumpers dumping.

This problem will become a lot worse, once the charities are no longer paying tip fees ! The dumping problem will probably multiply 10-fold overnight.

Get rid of the bins altogether – its the only answer. Anyone who wants to take the time to donate stuff to the charities, will take the time to drive to a proper collection point anyway.

I went past the bins at Kippax on Thursday and there was “crap” extending at least 8 feet in front of the bins. No way could you have put anything into the actual bins without going mountain climbing. I saw the guys there clearing it all away on Friday, but yesterday, there was heaps of stuff piled outside them again. From previous experience, as fast as they collect stuff from these bins, more is left. As soon as there is one item on the footpath, people seem to assume that the bins are full, so don’t even check and just dump more stuff on the ground.

Personally, I think some of the organisations have more bins than they have volunteers to be able to cover in a timely manner. They should probably remove some of them so they can make more frequent collections at their “profitable” sites (ie, good items donated, without all the crap dumped” rather than just having as many bins out at as many sites as possible.

Alternatively, put all the bins into compounds where there is CCTV, or further away from carparks so big heavy items can’t just be dragged out the back of a car and dumped on the sidewalk.

On another note, when my brother was moving house (interstate, but still relevant regarding charities) they had a garage sale. The first people through the door were from Salvos. They walked around, pointed out all the nice furniture and electrical items and said “we’ll take that, that and that. Can we pick it up at the end of the day please?” They didn’t argue about the price at all.

When asked about it, they simply replied “Poor people deserve nice things too”

It was a win win situation for my brother. They returned at the end of the day, picked up all the items they had purchased, and also took the items that my brother hadn’t managed to sell.

Genie said :

I will still also note on how greedy I consider charities to be lately.. they only want top end donations that they can SELL for a premium. What happened to the days when the clothes/furniture/manchester etc people donated went straight to the needy instead of straight to the shelves for a profit .

I don’t understand this line of thought. Yes most of the centres are staffed by volunteers, but these charities do have paid staff as well, and gasp shock horror, costs to cover (duh like taking illegally dumped stuff to the tip, if not wages, then there is still costs like vehicle costs, fuel etc). I have no probs with them making a bit of money, after all they do A LOT more work in the community than just sell stuff to the needy. If they can sell my stuff for a premium, I say good on them, and I am pretty sure that as registered charities, if they do make a bit of money, it most certainly is not “profit”.

taninaus said :

watto23 said :

Weren’t tip fees to help encourage recycling, I know there is a handy recycling waste dropoff point in tuggeranong, but maybe more of these sites, would help as well? Of course people dump crap here also, but CCTV at these sites could surely be warranted.

If more people knew about Freecycle and the like they might put the same effort they do into dumping the old TV into finding it a new home. I have had another 3 successful give aways this weekend to people who wanted the items I no longer needed. But I do agree about the comment about e-waste – the cost of $30-50 is a huge disincentive for any of us to do the right thing. I totally get why people choose other ways to get rid of these – wrong or not.

Yes and no. From a NSW perspective, yes Queanbeyan City Council (fantastic council) does have a “bring out your dead day” (kerbside collection), twice a year I think, and there is also a good recycling facility. IMHO the ppl who dump stuff are basically just lazy and inconsiderate, and no amount of incentives will change that. Freecycle is a great idea, but really, isn’t it just easier to drop your shit off at a charity bin, then it becomes someone else problem. Outa sight, outa mind & all that. And I did see in one of your pic, Tuggers I think, a Jerrabomberra school uniform. just goes to show that a supposedly “good” suburb still has lazy lazy ppl.

thisisnotcharity said :

The charities employ workers in a big truck to go collect. I came across two workers for the Lone Fathers Association charity bins at Wanniassa just aftr Christmas, when I started this website, and they just collect the stuff without sorting, and “it all goes to the tip” – in their words. If it’s contaminated with household garbage, it cannot be used.

Is this the case for the genuine donations also? I regularly pop a few bags of outgrown children’s clothes into Lone Fathers’ bins (yes, INTO, I won’t say where or the situation might change, but there are some donation locations that don’t get dumping) but if they’re not genuinely using them, I’d rather give them away on Facebook, Gumtree etc.

puggy said :

Genie said :

I recently couldn’t give away a washing machine and old couches to any charity because they were “too old” but it took me all of an hour to sell them online for less than $50 each.

You have some fair points, but you’ve given yourself a solution. Charity or not, they need to cover costs – and there are costs in giving away free goods, whatever you may think. If you can get rid of your stuff for $50 in 60 minutes, then that’s the way to do it.

Yes, people need to take more responsibility for disposing of their own items.

Genie said :

After going to Kippax the other night, I was disgusted by the amount of trash that was just lying on the ground. Christmas trees, furniture, broken toys and dozens of garbage bags full of clothes.

What I would like to know is the following:
1. How often do the charities bother coming around to check their bins ?
2. Do they sort through the stuff outsides the bin or just throw it away ?
3. When are they going to wake up to themselves and GET RID OF THESE BINS ?

IMO The charities need to abolish the bins all together. They complain that they are spending MILLIONS per annum taking all this stuff to the tip.
Why don’t they try different methods of receiving donations ? Hire a hall/warehouse out every few months and have a ‘donation day’.

The charities employ workers in a big truck to go collect. I came across two workers for the Lone Fathers Association charity bins at Wanniassa just aftr Christmas, when I started this website, and they just collect the stuff without sorting, and “it all goes to the tip” – in their words. If it’s contaminated with household garbage, it cannot be used.

They do not sort at charity bin sites.

Vinnies got rid of all their charity bins 8 years ago.

You have some good ideas. Thank you.

http://www.thisisnotcharity.net/index.html

damien haas said :

I’d like to see at least ONE publicised prosecution for this act.

Me too. Katy G did say on radio the other day that illegal dumpers have been prosecuted, but it is mixed in with the illegal dumping of waste materials from building sites, asbestos dumping, garbage on side of road, that kind of thing. No specific figures for charity bins or stores.

murraythecat said :

… I will never approach an illegal dumper, or any other sort of bogan scum again..

Ditto! Thank you for your story, I read it with great interest. I can relate too. After a close shave the other day with a mum with three kids, I was called a drug addict (no makeup that day and I looked like hell), and told to mind my own “f***king business”.

I can only imagine what you went through. Thanks for the outline. remember, though dumpers can be anyone and everyone. Found a CHOGM 2011 delegate program at Mawson (it’s on the website under Mawson – here it is – http://www.thisisnotcharity.net/mawson-3.html , and I also found Elizabeth Arden nail polish. Found a guy throwing bags of clothes into the actual bin the other day, and I thanked him “for doing the right thing”. Then I took a quick peek into his SVU, and he had a lot of crap which I think was intended to be dumped. He looked to see if I had driven off, and shut his boot, but I could see he was thinking “now I have to pay for the tip for all this crap!”. It was hilarious. Well dressed man with nice car. Dumpers can be anyone.

GardeningGirl said :

Good on you thisisnotcharity for trying to do something. I had a quick look at your website, very well done.

We used to take our recyclables to the collection depot before recycling bins were introduced. After all these years I would have liked to think there’s an intelligent system in place where everything reasonably efficiently ends up at the best place for it. I think I’m starting to prefer skips to headaches. No more calls to the relevant government section about where to dispose of a particular recyclable material only to be told that “No Waste must be a federal program cos I’ve never heard of it”. No more wondering what to do when trying to book a collection by a charity and they say “We can’t even narrow the time down to morning or afternoon, not even if you ask on the day of the pick-up, but if you can’t be home just leave it outside . . rain? . . oh, don’t worry about rain, just leave it out anyway . . we’ll pick it up if it’s wet, but on the other hand we won’t pick it up if we don’t like it for some arbitrary unpredictable reason.” I’m not convinced either the government or the charities care. They exist to LOOK like they’re doing something, they don’t have to do it well.

Thank you, and I agree on many points you raise, but ultimately, it’s the dumpers that need to start “caring” about their actions.

dpm said :

thisisnotcharity said :

oops

http://www.thisisnotcharity.net/latest-pics.html

It’s weird, do people actually dump clothes like that by spreading them all around (e.g. first pic)? I would have thought they would have been easier to dump in a bag… Basically, it looks to me like not only have people dumped this stuff, but other people have sifted through it looking for something they’d like (and perhaps trashed the odd non-working TV while they were at it)?!

My words they dump with no bags. I am at these du;ping sites often last thing at night, and first thing in morning, and yes, clothes are dumped without carefully thought about bags. Dumpers are messy people, they chuck their crap in a car, and they chuck it out on the ground. Yes, some bags have been opened in some dumping sites, but even so, it’s an eyesore, and illegal, both in or out of any bags.

watto23 said :

Weren’t tip fees to help encourage recycling, I know there is a handy recycling waste dropoff point in tuggeranong, but maybe more of these sites, would help as well? Of course people dump crap here also, but CCTV at these sites could surely be warranted.

There are and they do…. There is one of those major recycling areas in each of the major town centres except Civic – from the website Located at Jolly Street, Belconnen – Baillieu Court , Mitchell – Botany Street , Phillip – Scollay Street, Tuggeranong Town Centre” as well as the West Belconnen and Hume landfill areas. The Gvt introduced CCTV late last year to overcome the illegal dumping they were getting.

If more people knew about Freecycle and the like they might put the same effort they do into dumping the old TV into finding it a new home. I have had another 3 successful give aways this weekend to people who wanted the items I no longer needed. But I do agree about the comment about e-waste – the cost of $30-50 is a huge disincentive for any of us to do the right thing. I totally get why people choose other ways to get rid of these – wrong or not.

Genie said :

I recently couldn’t give away a washing machine and old couches to any charity because they were “too old” but it took me all of an hour to sell them online for less than $50 each.

You have some fair points, but you’ve given yourself a solution. Charity or not, they need to cover costs – and there are costs in giving away free goods, whatever you may think. If you can get rid of your stuff for $50 in 60 minutes, then that’s the way to do it.

After going to Kippax the other night, I was disgusted by the amount of trash that was just lying on the ground. Christmas trees, furniture, broken toys and dozens of garbage bags full of clothes.

What I would like to know is the following:
1. How often do the charities bother coming around to check their bins ?
2. Do they sort through the stuff outsides the bin or just throw it away ?
3. When are they going to wake up to themselves and GET RID OF THESE BINS ?

IMO The charities need to abolish the bins all together. They complain that they are spending MILLIONS per annum taking all this stuff to the tip.
Why don’t they try different methods of receiving donations ? Hire a hall/warehouse out every few months and have a ‘donation day’. Stuff can be semi-sorted on the premise and anything they don’t want can be returned to the person donating it, or added to a trash pile. This is one option they could at least consider trialling.

I will still also note on how greedy I consider charities to be lately.. they only want top end donations that they can SELL for a premium. What happened to the days when the clothes/furniture/manchester etc people donated went straight to the needy instead of straight to the shelves for a profit ?

I recently couldn’t give away a washing machine and old couches to any charity because they were “too old” but it took me all of an hour to sell them online for less than $50 each.

murraythecat said :

And, this just goes to prove what type of people you are dealing with when it comes to illegal dumpling and disrespect for society in all its ugly forms.

Thanks for reporting it to the police, at least they are aware of serial dumpers

murraythecat said :

I spotted some people dumping stuff at Jerrabomberra shops about 18 months ago (NSW yeah I know) & I pointed out to them, pleasantly I thought, that if it was left outside the bin, it would not go to charity. I really should have taken a better look at the family before I piped up, beat up sliver van, uber bogan Mum & Dad (how could I tell, huh, I could TELL!), several unrestrained kids in the car while mum sat there smoking in the front seat…and…the response? A total barrage of f*ck you ya c*nt, f*ck off (kids joining in as well, the older ones at least, the babies just enjoying the show), stupidly I replied something along the lines of “Well I was just letting you know, no need to get abusive” which led to a rant of how they would follow me home, hurt my children, trash my house, how the f*ck DARE I even speak to them, did I know who they were etc etc. Most worrying I had my then 6 year old with me. I heard most of this while I was walking away, trying to get my boy away from the tirade, all the while shaking in my shoes that I had actually turned my back to them & wouldn’t see the bullet or head tackle when it was coming. Made it to the shops, took a quick look behind me to see said van parking in the car park & Dad get out, so I went straight to the supermarket & asked for the manager who told me to hide while he called the cops. I was taken to the newsagent to “put them off the scent” as they had seem me go into the supermarket, stood shaking in the newsagent for at least 15 minutes all the while getting updates form supermarket manager. I only came our when he told me had had actually seen them leave. Later calls to the police (after a strong dram or 4) brought the comments “Oh yeah we know that family well, will pay them a visit”. I don’t know the outcome of that, but I will never approach an illegal dumper, or any other sort of bogan scum again. And, this just goes to prove what type of people you are dealing with when it comes to illegal dumpling and disrespect for society in all its ugly forms.

Cue Violet coming on here to give you a serve about victimising these poor people with your stereotypes about bogans and your failure to recognise that yelling and swearing at people is perfectly fine.

I’d like to see at least ONE publicised prosecution for this act.

I spotted some people dumping stuff at Jerrabomberra shops about 18 months ago (NSW yeah I know) & I pointed out to them, pleasantly I thought, that if it was left outside the bin, it would not go to charity. I really should have taken a better look at the family before I piped up, beat up sliver van, uber bogan Mum & Dad (how could I tell, huh, I could TELL!), several unrestrained kids in the car while mum sat there smoking in the front seat…and…the response? A total barrage of f*ck you ya c*nt, f*ck off (kids joining in as well, the older ones at least, the babies just enjoying the show), stupidly I replied something along the lines of “Well I was just letting you know, no need to get abusive” which led to a rant of how they would follow me home, hurt my children, trash my house, how the f*ck DARE I even speak to them, did I know who they were etc etc. Most worrying I had my then 6 year old with me. I heard most of this while I was walking away, trying to get my boy away from the tirade, all the while shaking in my shoes that I had actually turned my back to them & wouldn’t see the bullet or head tackle when it was coming. Made it to the shops, took a quick look behind me to see said van parking in the car park & Dad get out, so I went straight to the supermarket & asked for the manager who told me to hide while he called the cops. I was taken to the newsagent to “put them off the scent” as they had seem me go into the supermarket, stood shaking in the newsagent for at least 15 minutes all the while getting updates form supermarket manager. I only came our when he told me had had actually seen them leave. Later calls to the police (after a strong dram or 4) brought the comments “Oh yeah we know that family well, will pay them a visit”. I don’t know the outcome of that, but I will never approach an illegal dumper, or any other sort of bogan scum again. And, this just goes to prove what type of people you are dealing with when it comes to illegal dumpling and disrespect for society in all its ugly forms.

Good on you thisisnotcharity for trying to do something. I had a quick look at your website, very well done.

We used to take our recyclables to the collection depot before recycling bins were introduced. After all these years I would have liked to think there’s an intelligent system in place where everything reasonably efficiently ends up at the best place for it. I think I’m starting to prefer skips to headaches. No more calls to the relevant government section about where to dispose of a particular recyclable material only to be told that “No Waste must be a federal program cos I’ve never heard of it”. No more wondering what to do when trying to book a collection by a charity and they say “We can’t even narrow the time down to morning or afternoon, not even if you ask on the day of the pick-up, but if you can’t be home just leave it outside . . rain? . . oh, don’t worry about rain, just leave it out anyway . . we’ll pick it up if it’s wet, but on the other hand we won’t pick it up if we don’t like it for some arbitrary unpredictable reason.” I’m not convinced either the government or the charities care. They exist to LOOK like they’re doing something, they don’t have to do it well.

thisisnotcharity said :

oops

http://www.thisisnotcharity.net/latest-pics.html

It’s weird, do people actually dump clothes like that by spreading them all around (e.g. first pic)? I would have thought they would have been easier to dump in a bag… Basically, it looks to me like not only have people dumped this stuff, but other people have sifted through it looking for something they’d like (and perhaps trashed the odd non-working TV while they were at it)?!

oops

http://www.thisisnotcharity.net/latest-pics.html

puggy said :

Publicising problem + highlighting dumping exemption for charities = http://twitpic.com/83s2rr (via GCC facebook page)

I’m seriously considering staking out dumping sites and writing down number plates. Not just charity bins either. There’s stuff dumped everywhere here in Gungahlin (and no, smart arses, they’re not the houses).

here’s the latest pics link – Gungahlin features with commentary …

puggy said :

Publicising problem + highlighting dumping exemption for charities = http://twitpic.com/83s2rr (via GCC facebook page)

I’m seriously considering staking out dumping sites and writing down number plates. Not just charity bins either. There’s stuff dumped everywhere here in Gungahlin (and no, smart arses, they’re not the houses).

I took that pic and sent it to Alan Kerlin on twitter. GalileoGal67 on twitter is me.

Many more on my website: http://www.thisisnotcharity.net

Thanks for posting, and yes, I too would love to stake out every night but it’s dangerous work 😉

Publicising problem + highlighting dumping exemption for charities = http://twitpic.com/83s2rr (via GCC facebook page)

I’m seriously considering staking out dumping sites and writing down number plates. Not just charity bins either. There’s stuff dumped everywhere here in Gungahlin (and no, smart arses, they’re not the houses).

Did you know?

Illegal dumpers wear zebra underpants, cherise coloured Elizabeth Arden nail polish, have been to CHOGM 2011 Perth as a delegate (or know someone that has been), and throw out creepy dolls.

Do you know who owns this stuff? if yes, then you know a dumper.

http://www.thisisnotcharity.net/latest-pics.html

Why on earth is anyone making excuses for people who dump stuff outside charity bins? Claiming it is all down to tip fees is an absolute cop out. It is really not that expensive.

http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/only-the-selfish-dump-their-crap-in-charity-bins/

One more point I’d like to make, is I find it ironic we are told to recycle, yet many recycling services like e-waste etc cost so much why wouldn’t the lazy couldn’t care less canberra dump it illegally.

The citizens and government need to find a common ground regarding waste disposal/recycling services and how to pay for it.

Weren’t tip fees to help encourage recycling, I know there is a handy recycling waste dropoff point in tuggeranong, but maybe more of these sites, would help as well? Of course people dump crap here also, but CCTV at these sites could surely be warranted.

thisisnotcharity said :

Hey all – I’m actually filtering the valid and well-argued comments on this thread, and will be providing a “submission” of sorts to the Government. Please don’t go off topic – just creates more reading for those who’d also prefer to stick on topic.

There’s some really good suggestions here – thank you.

As Basil would say “Don’t mention the war!”

🙂

So you’re sifting through the dumpster for the clothes that fit. Ironic really.

thisisnotcharity said :

Hey all – I’m actually filtering the valid and well-argued comments on this thread, and will be providing a “submission” of sorts to the Government. Please don’t go off topic – just creates more reading for those who’d also prefer to stick on topic.

There’s some really good suggestions here – thank you.

As Basil would say “Don’t mention the war!”

🙂

You can’t win a Mully without the conversation going at least a little off topic 🙂 Without our inane off topic comments the thread wouldn’t be long enough to win the prestigious award.

Hey all – I’m actually filtering the valid and well-argued comments on this thread, and will be providing a “submission” of sorts to the Government. Please don’t go off topic – just creates more reading for those who’d also prefer to stick on topic.

There’s some really good suggestions here – thank you.

As Basil would say “Don’t mention the war!”

🙂

From a discussion about illegal dumping to now a debate about the war and some nice “fuck off we’re full” sentiment. – i love this site so much 😀

Arthur McKenzie said :

Jethro said :

Arthur McKenzie said :

It’s the same disjointed sense of values that feeds dictators and despots by giving a free spot aqt taxpayer expense to refugee opportunists. Get rid of the dictators and the refugee problem is solved. Only a typical nanny-stater will reply with a ‘it can’t be done’ reply.

You are, of course, right.

Instead of accepting a couple of thousand Iranian refugees each year, we should just invade Iran and get some regime change going. While we are at it, we should declare war on Burma, East Africa, Sri Lanka and anywhere else that our refugees come from. This will solve the refugee problem once and for all.

The brilliance of your idea is demonstrated through the regime changes we effected in Iraq and Afghanistan. Getting rid of those dictators sure as hell stopped the flow of people from these two places.

It was your idea to invade them that doesn’t work, not mine. As for Burma and Africa, it seems to me that most (genuine) refugees from there have to wait for the Indonesian queue to empty – some up to 15 years by recent news reports. Sounds like your plan on that front doesn’t work either.

How do you propose we force regime change without invading? Your original point was stupid. It remains so.

“Abusing charities because people are using dropbins as a dumping point for rubbish they don’t want (and believe that ‘poor people’ should use).
Classy!
Love the ‘refugee opportunist’ bit too – nice to know exactly who we’re dealing with.”

‘Abuse’, offense’, ‘hate-mail’ are just the usual copout words for those who can’t handle diversity, can’t be productive or just want a tax-free ride to sanctimony. Those too-choosy charities have been grizzling about dumping for years and haven’t got the get-up to be creative. The bins are an eyesore and should be dispensed with. The reason they aren’t is because the business is highly lucrative.

Refugees? Nauru and TPV’s. There ya go. That’s what I call classy and most of us say the same.

Jethro said :

Arthur McKenzie said :

It’s the same disjointed sense of values that feeds dictators and despots by giving a free spot aqt taxpayer expense to refugee opportunists. Get rid of the dictators and the refugee problem is solved. Only a typical nanny-stater will reply with a ‘it can’t be done’ reply.

You are, of course, right.

Instead of accepting a couple of thousand Iranian refugees each year, we should just invade Iran and get some regime change going. While we are at it, we should declare war on Burma, East Africa, Sri Lanka and anywhere else that our refugees come from. This will solve the refugee problem once and for all.

The brilliance of your idea is demonstrated through the regime changes we effected in Iraq and Afghanistan. Getting rid of those dictators sure as hell stopped the flow of people from these two places.

It was your idea to invade them that doesn’t work, not mine. As for Burma and Africa, it seems to me that most (genuine) refugees from there have to wait for the Indonesian queue to empty – some up to 15 years by recent news reports. Sounds like your plan on that front doesn’t work either.

Arthur McKenzie said :

poetix said :

Arthur McKenzie said :

Don’t give to charities. It only supports poverty. Anyway, they must be earning heaps if they can afford the millions they claim it costs to dump the rubbish.

I’m hoping this is dour Scottish humour at its very best.
It bears the same relation to humour that haggis does to food.

No it’s not.

The reality is that giving your junk to over-selective tax-free parasites just feeds the problem rather than solving it. It’s the same disjointed sense of values that feeds dictators and despots by giving a free spot aqt taxpayer expense to refugee opportunists. Get rid of the dictators and the refugee problem is solved. Only a typical nanny-stater will reply with a ‘it can’t be done’ reply.

The Salvos and vinnies should go into the neighourhood rubbish collection business. They’ve obviously got the collection point network. It’s probably a lot more lucrative than cadging for money at a mall or your from door.

Take back the blanket? They don’t get one in the first place.

Abusing charities because people are using dropbins as a dumping point for rubbish they don’t want (and believe that ‘poor people’ should use).

Classy!

Love the ‘refugee opportunist’ bit too – nice to know exactly who we’re dealing with.

Arthur McKenzie said :

It’s the same disjointed sense of values that feeds dictators and despots by giving a free spot aqt taxpayer expense to refugee opportunists. Get rid of the dictators and the refugee problem is solved. Only a typical nanny-stater will reply with a ‘it can’t be done’ reply.

You are, of course, right.

Instead of accepting a couple of thousand Iranian refugees each year, we should just invade Iran and get some regime change going. While we are at it, we should declare war on Burma, East Africa, Sri Lanka and anywhere else that our refugees come from. This will solve the refugee problem once and for all.

The brilliance of your idea is demonstrated through the regime changes we effected in Iraq and Afghanistan. Getting rid of those dictators sure as hell stopped the flow of people from these two places.

poetix said :

Arthur McKenzie said :

Don’t give to charities. It only supports poverty. Anyway, they must be earning heaps if they can afford the millions they claim it costs to dump the rubbish.

I’m hoping this is dour Scottish humour at its very best.
It bears the same relation to humour that haggis does to food.

No it’s not.

The reality is that giving your junk to over-selective tax-free parasites just feeds the problem rather than solving it. It’s the same disjointed sense of values that feeds dictators and despots by giving a free spot aqt taxpayer expense to refugee opportunists. Get rid of the dictators and the refugee problem is solved. Only a typical nanny-stater will reply with a ‘it can’t be done’ reply.

The Salvos and vinnies should go into the neighourhood rubbish collection business. They’ve obviously got the collection point network. It’s probably a lot more lucrative than cadging for money at a mall or your from door.

Take back the blanket? They don’t get one in the first place.

This kind of reminds me of the posts about speeding vs upping the limit on the GDE.

This is lazy people vs reducing tip fees. I have some firsthand experience on a smaller scale being on the committee of the body corporate. You won’t be surprised that we have issues with dumping in our waste area also. We tried the enforcement of policy and it just doesn’tr work, takes too much time and effort to do. Yeah for the law abiding citizen who does the right thing, I agree we should all follow the laws/rules and be considerate of others.

The reality is that a lot of people aren’t. Our semi solution is to supply the complex with a skip twice a year for waste. Has reduced the matresses etc being dumped. Of course we don’t even know if it was residents dumping or outsiders. Same goes for the skip hire, we try to hide it to stop use from outside the complex, but I did catch one person try.

Of course I also believe a fair few people dump because fees are so high. On the flip side, for me as a single person, my waste is quite low, but when i have some hard waste, it would cost me a fortune to dump it each time, so i have to store the crap in my garage or a spare room. So while I’m trying to do the right thing, I’m also suffering because of the government policies. I can understand why some people just don’t give a crap and dump their rubbish somewhere.

Finally earlier this week, someone has a new oven. The old one is sitting beside the road, definately in non working condition…..

Don’t get me started on the lack of recycling bins either. we get 6 for 20 x 3 bdr townhouses. The house next door gets 1 for itself…..

the problem really is australia wide as reported in this report from the herald sun which knocks a blow to the theory re lack of annual/biannual hard rubbish kerbside collection in ACT. it’s just complete and utter laziness and selfishness!! some of the dumping reports in melbourne are even worse ie animal carcasses and the salvo take on the situation suggests a depressing hopelessness for a solution any time soon: “we have security cameras installed and people actually wave at them. It is an Australian culture, I have visited stores in the UK and they don’t do it there.”

I took some stuff to the Salvos at Mitchell which was rejected – so I then drove up to the shed at Tiny’s and they accepted most of it which was better than nothing.

I understand they are open every day which makes it easier to drop stuff off to a person and not leave it outside the other places for theft and leaving them to clean up a mess.

Arthur McKenzie said :

Don’t give to charities. It only supports poverty. Anyway, they must be earning heaps if they can afford the millions they claim it costs to dump the rubbish.

I’m hoping this is dour Scottish humour at its very best.
It bears the same relation to humour that haggis does to food.

Good on you for posting on this issue and making an effort. I believe dumping has a very corrosive effect on civic life – it so publicly promotes a social norm that massive selfishness by adults is OK.

Arthur McKenzie said :

Don’t give to charities. It only supports poverty. Anyway, they must be earning heaps if they can afford the millions they claim it costs to dump the rubbish.

You are right…. we should take back the blankets from the homeless, refuse to volunteer for meals on wheels, and no longer give money to the guide dog association, lest the homeless, infirm or blind become too satisfied with their lot in life.

thisisnotcharity said :

At 8.30am, today, 2 January on 666 ABC Canberra radio – Louise Maher – filling in for Ross Solly this week – will be interviewing Katy Gallagher about illegal dumping around charity bins in Canberra.

I do believe the website gets a mention. Let’s see what Katy has to say about it all.

Tune in if you’re able to!

I would NEVER listen to that lefty / green commy government biased radio/tv station.

Don’t give to charities. It only supports poverty. Anyway, they must be earning heaps if they can afford the millions they claim it costs to dump the rubbish.

Jethro said :

I also note that many other cities give ratepayers a few free trips to the tip each year, sent in the form of vouchers with your rates notice.

Why can the ACT government not do something similar?

Nice idea.
Having worked in rates, I’d suggest adding “free trips to the tip” to the discount for paying a full year’s rates in full: the quarterly reminder notices are an annoying waste of resources.

Jethro said :

Also, why are our wheelie bins so freaking small? Does any family with a couple of kids and animals actually fit all of their rubbish in their bin each week?

Yup. Two adults, two children and a cat. Most weeks we just have a single bag of rubbish. Occasionally two. But we are lucky enough to have a garden so all our organic waste is recycled on site. It could get tricky in a townhouse or apartment though.

Postalgeek said :

Kan said :

I would happily pay for a slight increase in rates to cover the costs for much cheaper tip fees and free clean up days.

So why should someone who doesn’t buy consumer crap, doesn’t throw out a perfectly good TV because they want the latest model, and who makes an effort to sort their rubbish, disposing of scrap metal, green waste, cardboard, cans, bottles, and plastics for free at the local tip, have to subsidize those with more wasteful lifestyles?

I don’t think the bogans who illegally dump the stuff at charity bins are “ratepayers”. The ACT Government is now letting the charities dump the unwanted rubbish at the tip for free (that means the ratepayers underwrite the cost). Until someone is caught in the act and fined heavily with “shaming publicity” this problem will get worse. The cost of correctly disposing of unwanted junk at the tip is far too high. Ratepayers should get a concession as they already make a contribution through the general rate assessment which not so long ago used to adequately cover a free trip to the tip.

I saw recently that charities had been granted an amnesty to dump the TV’s etc for free, waiving the usual fee that they had presumably been lumped with by these idiots… That is wrong on so many levels. (Usable goods going to waste, and paying to dump them)

Making some waves on ABC news online – http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-02/new-website-to-stop-charity-dumpers/3754922/?site=canberra&section=news

Will try to get audio of interview up today. It’s about 15 mins of me, Katy G and then Bob Wilson from Vinnies. Louise Maher dedicated a lot of time to this issue this morning, and it’s generating quite a bit of interest on the website, through emails, Facebook, twitter, and on here. Thank you ABC.

Thanks all on RiotACT – the suggestions on this site have been excellent – I have no doubt that the almighty at TAMS will read them and take note.

Let’s hope there’s a solution to this unsightly problem.

PS I have spared you all having to watch a television interview with ABC local news.

miz said :

I suspect there may also be a civil disobedience element, given the dumb (and expensive) waste programs we have in the ACT.

Some people may claim that there is a civil disobedience element, but if there really was, they would dump their rubbish outside the legislative assembly rather than leave it for a charity to take care of.

Heard the 666 segment – numerous texts and calls exhorting ACT Govt to implement a hard waste collection as they do in Queanbeyan, and criticising the current hard waste service offered to concession holders (it appears they only want to collect stuff they can sell).

I personally do not endorse the inappropriate dumping of rubbish. However, the dumpers obviously feel that they have no other option (irrespective of others’ view that they do have other options). I suspect there may also be a civil disobedience element, given the dumb (and expensive) waste programs we have in the ACT.

Therefore, as a pragmatist, I have decided that any party that promises to implement waste services of a similar standard to Queanbeyan (ie green waste and hard rubbish collections for every household included in the rates) will get my vote this year.

At 8.30am, today, 2 January on 666 ABC Canberra radio – Louise Maher – filling in for Ross Solly this week – will be interviewing Katy Gallagher about illegal dumping around charity bins in Canberra.

I do believe the website gets a mention. Let’s see what Katy has to say about it all.

Tune in if you’re able to!

Henry82 – I have already stated – it was tongue in cheek. I know it’s not hate mail. Was using colourful language to match the coloured junk I’ve found this week!

Charities aren’t obliged to take anything. If they don’t want your stuff, they don’t want it. It’s pretty simple.

Don’t get all pissy and offended because some old duck at vinnies dissed your 5 year old couch.

If you had to pay the charity the same price you paid at the tip would they still be your first option for disposal? No, probably not. You’re just trying to get something for free and feel good about it.

Brianna said :

I think you would find there are many things the charities reject that if the people needing them were asked, they would take them very quickly!

The fact of the matter is, they don’t want it. I can think of a number of reasons why, but the bottom line is they don’t want it, and they’ve politely declined. If you think its a good deal why not sell it yourself and donate the money to another charity? If you want to give it away, take a photo and upload it to freecycle or gumtree.

thisisnotcharity said :

The person also mentioned a fee waiver for tip fees for “years” – this came into effect today. I’m not aware of any other fee exemptions at tips for charities. Are you?

you’ve missed the point, they’ve given you misinformed feedback, not hate-mail. Just because they don’t agree with you, doesn’t make it hate-mail.

Agreee with the comments about charities rejecting items that aren’t new or near new. I took some stuf (can’t recall what it was now) f to Revolve or whatever the recycling place was called at Mitchell before it was called Tinys and they rejected it. Had to pay to dump it yet they had had a shed full of furniture in worse condition that was scratched/dirty/broken that they were trying to sell.

I guess it’s not strictly the charities fault, they now what the customer wants and you can get some pretty cheap new furniture from Fantastic Furniture not to mention cheap new clothes at places like K-Mart and BigW.

Brianna – I understand what you’re saying, but the website focusses on what people dump at the sites – illegally dump. It is rubbish and therefore belongs at the tip. Any half decent items are then thrown out because they are regarded as “contaminated” by household rubbish (dirty nappies and the like).

My 150 images from each area of Canberra speak for themselves.

Henry82 said :

That’s feedback, not hate-mail. You could always write an FAQ on your website, and respond to some of the comments.

Also, don’t feed the trolls.

Feedback? The person thinks that charities actually get a “financial reward” from the bins. Err, sadly, not the case.

The person also mentioned a fee waiver for tip fees for “years” – this came into effect today. I’m not aware of any other fee exemptions at tips for charities. Are you?

I responded in the only way I knew how – with facts.

I didn’t consider him/her to be a troll.

Tune in tomorrow at 8.30am to 666 and you’ll learn more.

Bennop said :

Hatemail? Exaggerate much?

It was tongue in cheek.

Henry82 said :

Brianna said :

The charities bring some of this on themselves by expecting new or near new items. (I know someone who works for the Salvos and have been told that they often reject furniture)

They reject furniture because it’s bulky (takes up floor space), and if people dump it, its not saleable quality, or they can’t sell it for any price, Salvos is forced to foot a larger bill to have it removed.

As for the “new or near new” comment, peoples definition of what is fit for resale/donation is somewhat skewed. There was a news report following the Queensland floods where they showed used/ripped underwear donated that was so bad, they couldn’t even use it as rags.

I know for a fact that if furniture has a single pet hair on it, then it will be rejected. I have a lounge suite that although 5 years old, is in very good condition because I have it steam cleaned every November. This lounge does have pet hair on it so wouldn’t be accepted. My lounge will be suitable for use for at least another 5 years because I look after it. I called the Salvos and St Vinnies a year ago to see if they wanted a fridge. Only 15 years old but in good working order. They rejected it. I think the charities need to have a good hard look at themselves. Yes, some people do throw out stuff that even the rag bag would reject but there are plenty of other things which, if I put them in the paper, listing them as free to a good home, they would be gone in 60 seconds!
I think you would find there are many things the charities reject that if the people needing them were asked, they would take them very quickly!

Brianna said :

The charities bring some of this on themselves by expecting new or near new items. (I know someone who works for the Salvos and have been told that they often reject furniture)

They reject furniture because it’s bulky (takes up floor space), and if people dump it, its not saleable quality, or they can’t sell it for any price, Salvos is forced to foot a larger bill to have it removed.

As for the “new or near new” comment, peoples definition of what is fit for resale/donation is somewhat skewed. There was a news report following the Queensland floods where they showed used/ripped underwear donated that was so bad, they couldn’t even use it as rags.

I will certainly be sharing your web site with everyone I know.
Reasons for this problem:
Government tip fees are too expensive.
People are too lazy to do the right thing.
The charities bring some of this on themselves by expecting new or near new items. (I know someone who works for the Salvos and have been told that they often reject furniture)
If the charities themselves set up security cameras and enforced stiff fines, they would stop the crap being dumped and make a profit.

That’s feedback, not hate-mail. You could always write an FAQ on your website, and respond to some of the comments.

Also, don’t feed the trolls.

Hatemail? Exaggerate much?

Hate mail from an illegal dumper?

A message came through on my website at 12.36am on New Years Day. It’s on my website, and here it is too. My short response follows below.

12:36 AM (6 hours ago)

Name
Helen wheels

Email
[I have shown the email on my website – it is obviously fake]

Comment
tams is a directorate, tams does not seek to set what a charity will or will not accept, the majority of charities (including LF) have had an exemption to landfill fill fees for quite a number of years, charities keep their bins in play because of the financial reward otherwise they would remove them. Worthy cause if not somewhat miss informed. cheers

And my response is here:

thisisnotcharity 7:27 AM (3 minutes ago)to heilonwheels46

Facts.

1. The fact that TAMS is a Directorate and not a “Department” is neither here nor there.

2. Nothing on my website states that TAMS determines what a charity will or will not accept. They provide the list on their website. Click the link and you will be educated.

3. A recent Media Release states that exemptions for charities will be introduced today – 1 January 2012 – nothing I have said is incorrect in that regard. Katy G will be speaking more about this on radio tomorrow.

4. Yes, they keep their bins in play for the clothing that goes INSIDE them, not the trash that is left around them. Do you get it now????

5. Not miss-informed at all.

6. I believe you are a dumpster.

7. Your response will be going on the website. Thanks!

if you have decent stuff, one of the options is to see if others want it through a group like Freecycle – personally I have gotten rid of old TV’s and furniture thorugh this group as while I might not need it there are others happy to give it a new home. Just google Freecycle Canberra to find the yahoo group.

This is something that would be fixed by a twice yearly hard rubbish collection (as per Queanbeyan and everywhere else in Australia). IMO, the ACT Govt is essentially ‘outsourcing’ the hard rubbish collection we need, to these charities, who have to clean up and pay for it to end up in landfill anyway.

Update

RADIO

Tune to 666 ABC Canberra radio at 8.30am Monday morning – 2 January – to hear Louise Maher speak with our Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, about illegal dumping at charity bins in the ACT. We have made waves. Good work everyone. Great questions. Some very legitimate questions that need to be answered.

POSTERS – a simple suggestion.

The current ACT Government Illegal Dumping posters on charity bins are mixed up with the actual charity posters (see images on my website under “Charity Posters”).

TAMS needs to design some new high-impact posters that will stand out more. They also need to be the same style of poster, consistent in design, across charity bins around Canberra, and perhaps charity store windows too.

The current main ACT Government poster has a lot of writing on it (difficult for some dumpsters to read). It also shows “minimum $200” as the penalty. It should show the maximum penalty of $1000 for individuals and $5000 for businesses – in very large font. The bright yellow one does mention $5000, but I only found it on one bin and the font was small.

Illegal dumpsters are perhaps more likely to react to large fonts, fewer words, bright colours, big dollar signs and numbers. I’ll even design it. Maximum impact – Minimum words.

I know this sounds simplistic, and there is a whole lot more to this problem, but I do think this could be a start.

Let’s go all out. All charity bins should be fitted with appropriate cameras. Those found guilty prosecute them and order them to collect other people’s rubbish according to how many kg’s they have dumped.

Jethro said :

Okwhatever said :

Regardless of whether the tip overcharges how can anyone possibly justify dumping their crud at a charity bin by complaining about the tip fees. Who decided that charities should pay instead of you? It costs them as much if not more to get rid of this trash. Most of the people that complain about tip fees are more than able to afford them, oh how dare you have to pay for your own rubbish, it’s unheard of.

Oh, I completely agree with you there.

My belief that the ACT government does a poor job at providing waste disposal services to its population doesn’t mean I condone illegal dumping, particularly when it passes the cost of your dumping onto a charity. Dumping at charity bins is reprehensible.

The key driver of this is not tip fees, it is the large number of selfish, lazy turds who live here (and this is not an ACT specific statement by the way).

thisisnotcharity said :

On 23 November 2011, the ACT Government announced that as of 1 January 2012, charities will be exempt from tip fees. More in this Media Release:

http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=11153&m=53&s=1

Assuming the buggers that dump at charity bins can read (it is a possibility!), won’t this just encourage more dumping at charity bins. At a previous problem solving type job, it was drummed into us… root cause…find and solve the root cause.

The reason the tip fees are so high and the bins so small is the government’s policy of “no waste” (by 2012 wasn’t it?).

Some time next year the fees for disposing of TVs and computer monitors (and maybe some other e-waste) will cease – http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/televisions-get-free-tip-trip-under-waste-plan/2310045.aspx?storypage=0

Hopefully this will be well-publicised so that people start holding onto their stuff until then, rather than dumping it illegally.

And to the poster who thinks former landfill sites are great places to build houses – they are full of toxic stuff, and amongst other nasties they also produce methane – read this http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/estate-residents-get-235-million-compo-20110325-1c9f3.html

Far better to reduce, reuse and recycle – for example, that methane could have been used to power a generator.

And does anyone remember ACT’s No Waste 2010 strategy, which turned out to be “aspirational”? It made me wonder how many other stern government statements are also actually “aspirational”

IP.

In response to the question “does anyone get fined?”, I can tell you they do. I was surprised when two rangers visiting our house one afternoon wanting to talk to my then 21 year old son. He had been told by his boss to go and dump some rubbish (old furniture etc being removed from a rental property) at the tip. Deciding it was too far away, he and a colleague found the local drop off for a Charity Store. Someone photographed them on a mobile phone and got the registration number of the trailer. When this information was submitted to the Park Rangers, they could check on the details of the trailer and the trail led to my son, who was fined. I can’t remember the amount he was fined but the embarrassment of having to explain to his boss and I was sufficient to make sure it didn’t happen again. Maybe, if we are vigilant, we could use our mobile cameras to get details of people dumping without actually getting involved.

Okwhatever said :

Regardless of whether the tip overcharges how can anyone possibly justify dumping their crud at a charity bin by complaining about the tip fees. Who decided that charities should pay instead of you? It costs them as much if not more to get rid of this trash. Most of the people that complain about tip fees are more than able to afford them, oh how dare you have to pay for your own rubbish, it’s unheard of.

Oh, I completely agree with you there.

My belief that the ACT government does a poor job at providing waste disposal services to its population doesn’t mean I condone illegal dumping, particularly when it passes the cost of your dumping onto a charity. Dumping at charity bins is reprehensible.

Okwhatever said :

thisisnotcharity said :

On 23 November 2011, the ACT Government announced that as of 1 January 2012, charities will be exempt from tip fees. More in this Media Release:

http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=11153&m=53&s=1

That helps but it doesn’t cover the time spent loading the rubbish, transport to and from the tip and time unloading it.

This is true. But it’s a start. Next step, increase penalties, raise awareness, expose dumpers, and continue to take pics.

thisisnotcharity said :

On 23 November 2011, the ACT Government announced that as of 1 January 2012, charities will be exempt from tip fees. More in this Media Release:

http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=11153&m=53&s=1

That helps but it doesn’t cover the time spent loading the rubbish, transport to and from the tip and time unloading it.

On 23 November 2011, the ACT Government announced that as of 1 January 2012, charities will be exempt from tip fees. More in this Media Release:

http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=11153&m=53&s=1

Regardless of whether the tip overcharges how can anyone possibly justify dumping their crud at a charity bin by complaining about the tip fees. Who decided that charities should pay instead of you? It costs them as much if not more to get rid of this trash. Most of the people that complain about tip fees are more than able to afford them, oh how dare you have to pay for your own rubbish, it’s unheard of.

Spent the morning getting thisisnotcharity on Facebook. Never been a Facebook user, so hope it works.

Here’s the link – if you’re on FB, can you please send it to your mates, or whatever you do on FB.:)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Is-Not-Charity/241626942577400

Thank you!

I’m of the opinion the person who dumped it still owns it.
 
But here is the unlikely scenario:
1. Person 1 dumps old mattress
2. Person 2 thinks “that looks like a good mattress”, I’ll have that
3. Person 1 is still in the area and observes mattress being taken
4. Person 1 makes a complaint of theft as the matress belongs to them.
 
ain’t gonna happen.
 
You could argue that once property is deposited inside the actual bin, it then becomes the property of the charity who owns the bin, but the depositer could always argue that it was a mistake and get it back. It’d be hard to prove it was yours though, unless you had just put it in…

KeenGolfer said :

TheDancingDjinn said :

Dilandach said :

Stealing? you classify picking through rubbish stealing? Personally i would rather the people picking through it at night and lightening the load – than the charity having to pick it all up and dump it.

It is theft and the law classifies it as such.

I’m not sure that it does. I’m fairly certain that dumped rubbish doesn’t belong to anyone and can be taken. The signs make it very clear that stuff left next to the charity bins is classified as illegal dumping (ie. rubbish), meaning that as rubbish it is free to be taken by any crazy hoarder who should want to take home broken junk.

‘If I dump it NEAR a bin, I’m sure the guy who tends to them will deal with it.’

tinc = thisisnotcharity, how appropriate

excuse any typos

Just read all comments with great interest. Thanks to all for discussing this with such gusto!

Update:

Went around Tuggers today. Wanniassa was remarkably clean, until I realised that the massive truck parked near the charity bins had just cleaned up the mess. I stopped, and spoke with the fellows. They worked for the Lone Fathers Association (the bins had LFA stickers on them), and they showed me the inside of the truck. They said it ALL goes to the tip. I told them about the charity fee exemption being introduced on 1 January 2012 by the ACT Government.

I then went to Erindale and Tuggeranong, and found more illegal dumping, even a fridge. It’s painted half blue. If you know who owns this very distinctive piece of junk, send them to my website will you please, as they feature heavily under the Tuggeranong link.

Received a response from Katy Gallagher this afternoon. Also been contacted by ABC local radio, but I really don’t want to be interviewed or identified.

The website is now looking better, with loads more pics. Exposing the dumping is my aim for now.

Thanks again for all your input, ideas and suggestions.

Thanks also to those that have sent links via my email: thisisnotcharity@gmail.com

tinc

thisiosnotacharity

Postalgeek said :

Kan said :

I would happily pay for a slight increase in rates to cover the costs for much cheaper tip fees and free clean up days.

So why should someone who doesn’t buy consumer crap, doesn’t throw out a perfectly good TV because they want the latest model, and who makes an effort to sort their rubbish, disposing of scrap metal, green waste, cardboard, cans, bottles, and plastics for free at the local tip, have to subsidize those with more wasteful lifestyles?

And why should someone who doesn’t have children subsidise schools, why should someone who drives subsidise those who choose to take ACTION, why should someone in Tuggeranong be forced to subsidise the whingers who choose to live in Gunghalin……..

interesting that no one has raised the issue of skips – both general waste and green waste. I have used a number of these over the years and think they are a cheaper alternative than several trips to the tip.

but the skip companies still charge extra (over and above the skip hire) to dump tvs and computers in the skip. I think the treatment of computer/tv waste is the biggest scam of the 21st century.

Postalgeek said :

Kan said :

I would happily pay for a slight increase in rates to cover the costs for much cheaper tip fees and free clean up days.

So why should someone who doesn’t buy consumer crap, doesn’t throw out a perfectly good TV because they want the latest model, and who makes an effort to sort their rubbish, disposing of scrap metal, green waste, cardboard, cans, bottles, and plastics for free at the local tip, have to subsidize those with more wasteful lifestyles?

Actually like you, I am one of the people who does sort out the rubbish and recycles. Just like you, I don’t buy the latest and the greatest tvs etc. Our current tv is 7 years old; it replaced a 20 year old telly. However, you can’t recycle everything or give your stuff away to charity – this is when you need a tip. As I’ve said before, other councils do a much better job at running their waste management. It’s time the ACT govt followed suit.

My neighbour utilizes the local primary school dumpster, to the approval of the acting custodian; now so do I! What a sweetheart that bloke.

shadow boxer said :

Wait until you see how many CRT tv and monitors get dumped in 2012. On the small bin issue just pinch an extra one, they kind of rotate around the suburbs.

Don’t have to wait till 2012. Driving home last week and some dirt bag had taken the time to drive out onto Mountain Creek Road and dump no less than 15 of these older TVs on the side of the road.

I reckon this would be a good thing to do. Give the buyer a voucher similar to a warranty and its cashable at the recycling place. Good revenue raiser too, as many people would lose their voucher and have to buy a new one at dumping time.

And enforce the crap out of illegal dumping.

I’m happy to account for my crap and dispose of it, I just don’t see how my rates don’t cover a tip.

You can sit there on your tower of smugness and pontificate but what is occuring is a direct result of tip fees, surely if someone went to the trouble of putting a mattress in the trailer and tip was free or they had a voucher that is where they would take it.

The green pschology of blunt force enforcement of their idealogy through massive charges on the user isn’t working on number of fronts.

Put video’s on the charity bins they’ll just take it somewhere else (probably worse like the bush)..

shadow boxer said :

Postalgeek said :

Kan said :

I would happily pay for a slight increase in rates to cover the costs for much cheaper tip fees and free clean up days.

So why should someone who doesn’t buy consumer crap, doesn’t throw out a perfectly good TV because they want the latest model, and who makes an effort to sort their rubbish, disposing of scrap metal, green waste, cardboard, cans, bottles, and plastics for free at the local tip, have to subsidize those with more wasteful lifestyles?

It’s just a tip dude, all we are asking for is a couple of vouchers a year to support lifes basic services and the way most of us live (and always have).

Just because you opt out doesn’t mean we all have to subsidise your lifestyle choice. I don’t use solar but I pay through the arse for it.

I don’t ‘opt out’. I just don’t whine about the cost of having to deal with the waste I generate. And I wouldn’t call sorting waste and disposing of it a recycling stations ‘opting out’.

Some people just hate having to come face to face with their own crap and being held to account for it.

As for cost, you had the money to buy the crap to fill the bin, but you don’t have the money to dispose of it?

Postalgeek said :

Install video cameras by the bins and fine the absolute crap out of dumpers ( they’re obviously lazy pricks who’ll park right in front of the bins). That’ll make them look at tip fees in a fresh light.

i agree, the cameras would pay for themselves! 😛

Postalgeek said :

Kan said :

I would happily pay for a slight increase in rates to cover the costs for much cheaper tip fees and free clean up days.

So why should someone who doesn’t buy consumer crap, doesn’t throw out a perfectly good TV because they want the latest model, and who makes an effort to sort their rubbish, disposing of scrap metal, green waste, cardboard, cans, bottles, and plastics for free at the local tip, have to subsidize those with more wasteful lifestyles?

It’s just a tip dude, all we are asking for is a couple of vouchers a year to support lifes basic services and the way most of us live (and always have).

Just because you opt out doesn’t mean we all have to subsidise your lifestyle choice. I don’t use solar but I pay through the arse for it.

Kan said :

I would happily pay for a slight increase in rates to cover the costs for much cheaper tip fees and free clean up days.

So why should someone who doesn’t buy consumer crap, doesn’t throw out a perfectly good TV because they want the latest model, and who makes an effort to sort their rubbish, disposing of scrap metal, green waste, cardboard, cans, bottles, and plastics for free at the local tip, have to subsidize those with more wasteful lifestyles?

Install video cameras by the bins and fine the absolute crap out of dumpers ( they’re obviously lazy pricks who’ll park right in front of the bins). That’ll make them look at tip fees in a fresh light.

shadow boxer said :

I again chalenge the greens to explain whats wrong with landfill, you dig a hole on the outskirts of town, fill it up with rubbish, when its full you push dirt over it and build houses.

Someone can correct me, but I’m pretty sure you can’t build houses on landfill. It’s not a very stable base. Around the landfill on solid ground yes (as I understand Gleneagles to be), but on it, no.

As an aside, California doesn’t charge to dump TVs, but they charge and an extra $20 to $30 tax at the register to buy a TV. Paying it forward so to speak.

shadow boxer said :

I again chalenge the greens to explain whats wrong with landfill, you dig a hole on the outskirts of town, fill it up with rubbish, when its full you push dirt over it and build houses.

Or let trees grow on it and call it a park – I was told that Bruce Ridge was a tip before it became a nature park worth defending from the GDE.

I dont think the person dumping a matress actually thinks its going to charity.

Like most people they think the tip fees are too high and will find other means. Wait until you see how many CRT tv and monitors get dumped in 2012. On the small bin issue just pinch an extra one, they kind of rotate around the suburbs.

I again chalenge the greens to explain whats wrong with landfill, you dig a hole on the outskirts of town, fill it up with rubbish, when its full you push dirt over it and build houses.

TheDancingDjinn said :

Dilandach said :

Stealing? you classify picking through rubbish stealing? Personally i would rather the people picking through it at night and lightening the load – than the charity having to pick it all up and dump it.

It is theft and the law classifies it as such.

Jethro said :

Also, why are our wheelie bins so freaking small? Does any family with a couple of kids and animals actually fit all of their rubbish in their bin each week?

For $60 a year you can order a 240 litre rubbish bin from TAMS which is the same size as the recycle bin, to replace the standard 140 litre bin.

I agree with fellow Rioters who blame the tip fees and the absence of clean up days. We’re regular attendees of the tip and it costs us a fortune each time; $30 for a trailer load and then there’s the ridiculous $25 for monitors and tvs. Where I used to live in NSW, we didn’t have this problem of charity bin dumping because the council had reasonable fees and free pick ups once a quarter. I would happily pay for a slight increase in rates to cover the costs for much cheaper tip fees and free clean up days.

Jethro said :

toriness said :

i don’t know why people here say it’s up to the ACT government to do something about this – the government doesn’t have a magic tree of money that it plucks notes off to finance such exercises as cleanups – the money to finance ACT government operations comes from every taxpayer. shouldn’t individuals who create more rubbish have to pay for its disposal themselves?

Why is it then that pretty much every other local council is able to provide these services? Why can Queanbeyan afford to have roadside collections, or Brisbane afford to give ratepayers a few free tip vouchers each year?

As far as I am aware, collecting and disposing of rubbish is one of the major functions of a local council. The ACT local council does it worse than anywhere else I have ever been, and the ACT has the worst problem with illegal dumping of anywhere else I have ever been. Correlation may not always equal causation, but I think in this case it does.

+1. Waste management falls squarely in the realm of council duties, and the fact that so m uch crap gets dumped at charity bins (and other locations in Canberra) indicates our local mob is doing a poor job.

Dilandach said :

Hawker shops is another one (really, its anywhere the bins are where judging eyes don’t frequent) the thing is that if you go there at night, you’ll usually see a few vans of people turning up and picking through what is there. Whether the charities throw it out or not, those people picking through the stuff to take home are effectively stealing.

Stealing? you classify picking through rubbish stealing? Personally i would rather the people picking through it at night and lightening the load – than the charity having to pick it all up and dump it.

toriness said :

i don’t know why people here say it’s up to the ACT government to do something about this – the government doesn’t have a magic tree of money that it plucks notes off to finance such exercises as cleanups – the money to finance ACT government operations comes from every taxpayer. shouldn’t individuals who create more rubbish have to pay for its disposal themselves?

Why is it then that pretty much every other local council is able to provide these services? Why can Queanbeyan afford to have roadside collections, or Brisbane afford to give ratepayers a few free tip vouchers each year?

As far as I am aware, collecting and disposing of rubbish is one of the major functions of a local council. The ACT local council does it worse than anywhere else I have ever been, and the ACT has the worst problem with illegal dumping of anywhere else I have ever been. Correlation may not always equal causation, but I think in this case it does.

Classified said :

gentoopenguin said :

I really don’t understand why people don’t go to the tip rather than make charities pay to remove rubbish.

Because the govco run tip is expensive and inconvenient, and dumping by charity bins is free and convenient.

Spot on. Of course, those of us with some sort of moral code decide against transferring the cost of dumping our junk to a charity, but we can still grumble at the exorbitant cost of dumping waste in the ACT.

What in other cities would be a twice a year household clean-out assisted by council roadside collection, instead becomes a $100 plus exercise, once you hire a trailer or ute and pay the tip fees (particularly high for dumping monitors, etc). I also note that many other cities give ratepayers a few free trips to the tip each year, sent in the form of vouchers with your rates notice.

Why can the ACT government not do something similar? I certainly haven’t seen the type of dumping that we get in Canberra in any other cities I have lived in. Is this part of their ‘no waste’ policy?… Don’t offer people any cheap and easy way to dump waste and hope that the waste these people would have dumped will just disappear?

Also, why are our wheelie bins so freaking small? Does any family with a couple of kids and animals actually fit all of their rubbish in their bin each week?

if the stuff is actually decent enough to give to a charity, you go during their opening hours. if you’re dumping it outside the bins then you either know it’s not good enough for the charity (or even worse, don’t care about it getting to them in good enough condition once exposed to the elements to do much with) and not good enough for the recycle place, and you’re a cheap bastard who is happy to burden others with your crap. it’s as simple as that.

i don’t know why people here say it’s up to the ACT government to do something about this – the government doesn’t have a magic tree of money that it plucks notes off to finance such exercises as cleanups – the money to finance ACT government operations comes from every taxpayer. shouldn’t individuals who create more rubbish have to pay for its disposal themselves?

Agreed. That is not charity, it’s pathentic.

ACT’s tip fees are appropriate, they reflect the high external cost of sending waste to landfill. I would be happy to see them higher.

I strongly disagree with the suggestion that the government should reduce the fees so that residents aren’t discouraged from disposing of waste legally. I also don’t agree that hard waste collection days or tip vouchers should be introduced. Residents should accept that the waste service provided by the government is to pick up and dispose of a wheelie-bin-sized amount of rubbish from your house every week. If you have more waste than that then you need to pay for it.

The issue of illegal dumping isn’t restricted to the charity bins. The recyclable waste bins are often full of very non-recyclable material.

I wonder how many of the CRTs around charity bins have dumped because they’ve been replaced by $500+ LCD screens. It’s hard to believe that people dumping CRTs under those circumstances couldn’t afford to pay to dispose of them responsibly.

Raise the penalties and start enforcing them.

Hawker shops is another one (really, its anywhere the bins are where judging eyes don’t frequent) the thing is that if you go there at night, you’ll usually see a few vans of people turning up and picking through what is there. Whether the charities throw it out or not, those people picking through the stuff to take home are effectively stealing.

gentoopenguin said :

I really don’t understand why people don’t go to the tip rather than make charities pay to remove rubbish.

Because the govco run tip is expensive and inconvenient, and dumping by charity bins is free and convenient.

Thank you for all your replies, and tips on where to find more rubbish.

Just updated the homepage of the website, with the correct date, thank you willo, yes, Tuesday was the 27th. Also, did some research and added some links. Seems the charities will get fee exemptions at the tip as from 1 January 2012. See the links on http://thisisnotcharity.weebly.com/

Also added some TAMS links, in particular, a list of what is regarded as acceptable and not acceptable goods, and of course, a five year old Media release about Dob in a Dumper.

I understand this issue has been on RiotACT numerous times, but I had some time to take these pics (123 of them), and it only took an afternoon to set up this website. School holidays! What can I say!

Hopefully a dumper or two will read this, view the site, and recognise the purple slipper as their own, broken guitar, disgusting mattress, Dencorub cream, or any of the other junk as their own..

Thanks all.

I havent been there lately, but Kippax is another popular spot for the dumpers to drop off a load too. You have to wonder who could be so cheap or lazy to not take their items to the dump, or list them on Freecycle.

I share the moral indignation at those selfish morons who dump their stuff next to these things. But what is the cost-benefit ratio to the charities?

Are they making more from maintaining the bins than they lose by having to dispose of the crap that gets dumped? If so, they should accept it as a fund raising expense.

If not, or if ACT ratepayers are paying for the clean up, the bins should go. They are an eyesore in their own right, and this is only made worse by the garbage they attract by being there.

beejay76 said :

It is disgraceful, isn’t it? I live up this way, and I can confidently report that there are always items lying around in front of the bins. If I have things to donate I take them directly to the Salvos in Mitchell. They inspect, take what they want, and then it’s just a short trip to the tip with the rest.

I would really like to see the govt introduce “council cleanup days” here. It recently cost me $60 to take an old tele and a computer monitor to the tip. Small wonder people dump it on the side of the road, or in this case, on a charity. Shameful.

+1

Time for the ACT Government to step up and assist. Just sitting back and collecting the tip fees from charities is just not good enough.

The reason people dump crap is generally coz they are tight asses who refuse to pay the ridiculous prices it costs to dump in Canberra. Maybe instead of green recycling the government should look at affordable waste management, otherwise it will get worse. No excuse just reality.

Maybe this sort of thing points to tip fees being too high as well as the laziness of some people. Also, I remember growing up that charities took far more used things and didnt expect near new stuff to be donated. I’ve had my donations of quite good furniture knocked back by the Salvos in the past as they want newer stuff so they no longer get anything from me.

I worked as a truck driver for one of the local charities back in the late 80’s and this problem barely existed back then, of course that was before tip fees were introduced and it has certainly gotten worse after they were and seems to be getting worse as the years roll on, I’d hate to be doing my old job these days
on a pedantic note tuesday was the 27th not the 28th

The items dumped at Mawson were still there at 1.30pm today.

It is disgraceful, isn’t it? I live up this way, and I can confidently report that there are always items lying around in front of the bins. If I have things to donate I take them directly to the Salvos in Mitchell. They inspect, take what they want, and then it’s just a short trip to the tip with the rest.

I would really like to see the govt introduce “council cleanup days” here. It recently cost me $60 to take an old tele and a computer monitor to the tip. Small wonder people dump it on the side of the road, or in this case, on a charity. Shameful.

Thanks for your efforts and, even though you say you’re not a website designer, I think you’ve done an awesome job. I agree that CCTV cameras as well as ‘dob in a dumper’ would go some way to catching the lazy, inconsiderate offenders. I for one wouldn’t like to see the charity bins removed because of this – I appreciate being able to donate good, useable clothes, books, etc.

Nothing new, unfortunately, but good on you for documenting this sea of garbage. I really don’t understand why people don’t go to the tip rather than make charities pay to remove rubbish.

I used to ride past a Salvo’s depot in Melbourne.

It was insane. Every day loads and loads of stuff would appear. It’s a pity we don’t reuse this stuff better. Perhaps a few large warehouses around the place could help.

The people who worked there actually didn’t mind, as long as you dumped it off during business hours. What they said they hated was people dropping stuff off after hours as then other people would take all the good stuff.

Another view on this is that we live for the first time in human history when we really have too much dcent stuff.

I’ve read it costs all these charities a lot each year to take this type of rubbish to the dump, where the original people should have taken it in the first place. Lazy and cheap people with little respect.

This problem keeps getting raised, the possibility of fines is in place, but does any one get caught? The government could set up some security cameras in front of the stores and start catching people.

Thanks for driving around and taking these images, and placing them on your website.