The issue came to light during a Clutha District Council meeting this week, after a delegation of op shop managers from Balclutha and Milton sought council assistance in reducing disposal fees.
Among those appealing to the council was Balclutha & Toko Community Op Shop manager Sue Maunder.
Mrs Maunder told the Otago Daily Times cost-of-living increases meant people were dropping off more unsaleable goods at their and other op shops locally, including household rubbish.
Disposing of waste cost her two shops a total of about $19,000 each year, part of a collective $65,000-plus cost borne by five local shops, including Red Cross, Salvation Army and Otago Community Hospice.
"There’s always a certain amount of goods among the donations we receive that can’t be sold or repurposed, although we do our best to use as much as possible.
"So that disposal cost is built in to shop costs and overheads. But since tip fees, rates and the general cost of living have gone up, we’ve noticed an increase in the proportion of unsaleable goods and trash.
"Most of our staff are volunteers, so it’s not very nice to open a bag and find food scraps and used nappies, for example. Then there’s an additional cost having to actually dispose of it safely."
She said disposal costs now outstripped stores’ utility bills.
Security cameras would be costly and ineffective, she said, as stores would not wish to criminalise people.
"It’s a tricky problem, because we depend on and appreciate donations from the community, so we don’t want to put people off. But unless we can offset or reduce disposal fees somehow, we just won’t be able to stay open, and then everybody loses out."
The delegation had appealed to the council to waive or reduce dump fees for the stores.
"That could either be a discounted fee, or a fixed amount of free disposal, perhaps."
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan said he had been shocked to learn of the scale of the issue.
"That’s a huge bottom-line cost for them, reducing their ability to do their vital work for the district. They’ve got a legitimate argument for us to look at their fees, I believe."
Council staff will prepare a report for councillors’ consideration and decision, at a later meeting.
