By Bridie Byrne
Councillors voted unanimously at the last council meeting to rid the city of charity deposits that are being turned into dumping grounds.
The nine bins at the Hoppers Crossing Railway Station and Safeway Supermarket are set to be removed by the end of this month.
A council report stated the site had been an ongoing problem and created an eyesore.
Most sites were monitored over four months last year and again during February.
It follows a recent Star report on residents being disgusted with rubbish left strewn beside an overflowing skip behind the Hoppers Crossing railway platform.
The National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations executive manager Kerryn Caulfield said the decision was short-sighted.
“These household goods help refugees that come into the country, people who have fallen on hard times, people who are trying to re-establish themselves after being in jail,” she said.
“They provide an essential service within the community.
“It will cost jobs in the sorting depot.”
Ms Caulfield said the charities cleaned up the sites two or three times a week.
“The cost of disposing the rubbish comes back on the charity,” she said.
There are currently 27 charity bins at 11 sites across the city bringing in a net value of $126,500 a year.
These bins will be monitored on a weekly basis for the next six months.
Charities can now be forced to remove them if the site has a rating of “poor” or “bad” following two inspections in a row.
Councillor Kim McAliney said the amount of unwanted items was unacceptable.
“There is no excuse, this council now provides pick up services twice yearly for two tip vouchers.
Cr Shane Bourke said the charities were now put on notice.
“They now may have to be other ways for charities to raise that money, this us about having pride about where we live,” he said.
