ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Rosie Mullaley
The Telegram
Seeing items piled up outside a donation bin, you might think it’s an outpouring of generosity.
But for the charity that’s supposed to benefit, it can cause more harm than good.
Diabetes Canada loses up to $1 million annually by having to remove unacceptable items left on the ground outside its 5,000 clothing bins across the country, including 131 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
According to Scott Ebenhardt, the director of business development with National Diabetes Trust, the association pays more than $200,000 to have second-hand items removed and taken to the dump — items such as mattresses, bed frames, strollers, children’s car seats, tires, auto parts, sports equipment, electronics, paint, barbecues and large household items. Another $800,000 was lost in revenue, he said, when businesses and other property owners asked for the bins to be removed from their parking lots because of the accumulation of discarded items outside them.
“Some people think they’re helping, but this does not help the charity,” Ebenhardt told The Telegram during a telephone interview from Toronto Thursday.
“We can’t use those items and we end up spending (a lot of money) just taking people’s trash to the dump. That’s a direct cost to us.”
He said the association was forced to remove 400 donation bins across the country last year after companies and other property owners where the bins were located complained.
“The host, who is kind enough to allow us to have the bins on their property, doesn’t want to look at it,” Ebenhardt said. “So, over the course of a year, we end up losing bins sometimes because the host says it’s too messy. … Those are bins in which we would have generated about $800,000 in revenue.”
The discarded items often draw contempt from residents, some of whom take to social media to express their disgust.
J.A. Farrell recently posted a photo to the Paradise community group Facebook page showing a mattress lying alongside a Diabetes Canada donation bin. She wrote, “Donating things for charity and people in need is something we should all do. However, whoever decided to dump this mattress at the Diabetes bins by Tims, you’re just ignorant and disrespectful to think this is OK. Take your garbage to the dump! Hopefully the cameras get a (licence) plate number.”
Another woman, Kim Mercer-Seward replied, “People do this all the time. It’s a dumping station because people are too lazy to go to the dump!”
Ebenhardt said while there are some people who just want to unload their junk to save a trip to the dump, he suspects most drop off the items because they genuinely believe the charity could use them, and that sentiment is much appreciated. However, he said, nothing — including clothes, which they welcome — should be left outside the bins.
Items can be dropped off at the association office or residents can book appointments to have the items picked up from their homes at no cost. Other information is available on the charity’s website at www.diabetes.ca.
He said the association receives 95 million pounds of second-hand clothing annually and by recycling it and other fabric items, such as curtains and table cloths, the association diverts 100 million pounds of textiles from the landfill every year.
“It’s been shown that 85 per cent of textiles go to landfills,” he said.
He said the association raises money by selling its donated clothing and other items to Value Village. He said most of Diabetes Canada’s proceeds go toward sending 2,000 children with Type 1 diabetes to camp, and toward diabetes research.
He said 55 per cent of the association’s annual revenue comes from the clothing and other items received from donation bins.
“So, these bins are important to us,” said Ebenhardt, adding that local branches empty the bins at scheduled times throughout the week.
“I know people think they’re doing us a favour … but when people leave things outside the bins, that’s a real problem for us.”
The Salvation Army of Canada stopped using donation bins in this province years ago, according to Salvation Army Thrift Store National Recycling Operations in Oakville, Ont.
“Rather than use donation bins, we welcome donations at our Donor Welcome Centre, which is open seven days a week, with a dedicated donation attendant on hand to provide assistance,” the organization’s national communications and engagement specialist, May Strutt, wrote in an email response to questions.
“We also offer a thank-you coupon to everyone who donates.”
The centre accepts accessories, antiques and collectibles, clothing, computers, electronics, furniture, housewares, media and books, and seasonal items. For store and donation hours, residents can visit www.thriftstore.ca/locations.
Twitter: @TelyRosie
