3 Signs You're Using Charity Shops As A Guilt-Free Skip
Multiple family members and many friends have volunteered in charity shops – a noble gesture, but one that changed how all of them viewed the retail spaces forever.
“About 70% of donations are unsellable,” a charity shop volunteer who chose to remain anonymous told HuffPost UK (only about 10-30% of stock donated will ever get sold, British GQ claims).
“We have clothes that have been wet, dirty, mouldy,” the worker added.
So I was not surprised to read that multiple charity shop workers recently told the BBC they think donors are using them as a “bin” or “the middle man for their waste”.
We thought we’d share some signs you might (accidentally) be donating items that’ll cause charity shops more harm than good.
How can I tell if my clothes are good enough?
Speaking to HuffPost UK, an Oxfam spokesperson said: “We are so grateful for the donations we receive every day to our shops, which help us to raise vital funds to tackle poverty and inequality with partners across the globe.”
Their advice was simple: “The best rule of thumb for donating your pre-loved goods to charity shops like Oxfam is assessing whether it would be something you would be happy to buy yourself or give to someone else.”
Soiled, stained, and irreparably broken clothes cannot be sold.
And as the BBC notes, dumping clothes in a bag on the steps of a shut charity shop is essentially fly-tipping. It often leaves clothes mouldy and unsellable after a night of exposure to the elements.
“If in doubt, we have a handy list online with items you can donate, or ring up your local shop and our volunteers and staff would be happy to help,” Oxfam added.
Three signs you might be unintentionally misusing charity shop workers’ time include:
- donating low-quality, broken, dirty or wet clothes;
- dumping clothes outside the shop when it’s shut;
- and not checking whether a store accepts something you’re unsure about before donating it.
Textile prices are way down
Usually, charity shops get money for unsold clothes through textile recyclers.
But our source said: “We receive 39c a kilo for clothes that are not fit for sale.
“It is better to get something than nothing. However, 39c seems like a pittance for the effort put into sorting through the clothes at times.”
They work in the EU, but textile recycling prices are down in the UK too.
So, being considerate with your donations can help charity shops, which do welcome quality stock, to thrive better.