On Thursday a council contractor cleared mouldy mattresses and household rubbish from around the bins in Taieri Rd, Wakari.
The mess was noticed last week by Wakari resident Craig Morris.
"It was disgusting, feral household waste, things that should go in a bin or bag to be collected. It's basically a mini tip."
He suggested removing the bins or installing cameras, as it was "not going to stop anytime soon".
Salvation Army Dunedin family store and warehouse manager Simon Thompson said this happened every day outside its stores.
"Every morning we'll come to work and there will be donations left in all sorts of nooks and crannies that we occupy."
Items could vary from clothing, beds, mattresses, chairs, kitchen waste, mouldy shoes and used nappies.
"In amongst the bits and pieces are good, well-intentioned donations."
"We will clean it up, though. Our volunteers spend 40 minutes to an hour most mornings cleaning."
Nationally, dumping unsellable items cost the organisation more than $800,000 annually, he said.
However, if charities did not clean the messes, perhaps some of it would be dumped elsewhere, he said.
"Most items are good and usable and we put them to good use."
Council senior contract supervisor Peter Hughes said in some cases it would notify the owners of charity bins to get them to clean the area.
"In this case, the contractor has said it's pretty bad and just cleaned it up."
The council had one or two similar situations per year, he said.
