The instinct to donate rather than dump is a good one, and it goes wrong often. Charities in Australia spend real money each year disposing of donations that were never saleable. Sorting honestly at home is the single most useful thing a donor can do.
What should be donated?
New and near-new items: unused gifts, unworn clothing with tags, boxed homewares, excess new stock. If you would happily give it to a friend, donate it.
What should go to council cleanup?
Used furniture, mattresses, whitegoods and bulky household items. Councils across Sydney run free bulky waste collections, and many now sort for reuse before disposal.
What should simply be disposed of?
Anything broken, stained, damp, incomplete or unsafe. Donating it does not give it a second life, it just moves the disposal cost to a charity.
Is it really that costly for charities?
Yes. Sorting and dumping unsaleable goods consumes staff time and disposal fees, which come out of program funding.
What about leaving bags outside a closed shop?
Do not. Left outside, donations get rained on, picked through and scattered, and a saleable item usually becomes waste overnight. Drop off during opening hours.
How do I decide when I am unsure?
Ask whether you would be happy to receive it. Hesitation is usually the answer.
Sorted well, a donation funds real support. Details for new and near-new drop-offs at The Goodwill Shop.