It is a dangerous job but someone has to do it.
Smoke bombs, flares, shards of glass and crockery have all been part of the job for Dunedin's charity store workers over the past month.
ReStore assistant manager Lyle Palmer said it was the time of year when many people cleared their homes of items they did not want.
''Just a little reminder that although it is wonderful to get donations, just be a little bit careful.''
Earlier this month, the Hospice Shop in Bond St and the surrounding area was evacuated after what was believed to be a mortar round was discovered. It was later identified as a smoke bomb.
Last week, Mr Palmer said two boat flares were found in a box of donated tools in the Vogel St store and that was ''most definitely'' not what they wanted to find.
''They were 20 years past their use-by date. Fortunately the police were happy to take those.''
He said disposing of unsaleable or dangerous goods was ''expensive as well as frustrating''.
Last year Re-Store spent more than $3300 disposing of unsaleable or dangerous goods.
It is not just the financial cost that is hurting the shop - items such as broken crockery and glass are a big problem for workers.
''People badly wrap it or don't wrap it or are just careless and you reach in and all of a sudden you have got a slit up the side of your finger.
''I think we have all had nicks and grazes and cuts from that.''
He said broken crockery, unsanitary and dirty linen and clothing, dangerous electrical goods and borer-riddled furniture were in the ''definite no department'' when it came to donated goods.
