RUBBISH dumped at the Salvation Army’s South Nowra store is costing the organisation more than $20,000 a year to dispose of.
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Lieutenant Matthew Sutcliffe said each Monday morning staff had to deal with items that have been “dumped” at the South Nowra store over the weekend.
“It is getting increasingly bad,” he said.
“Last year it cost the organisation $21,000 to dispose of rubbish. This year we are already over $20,000 in rubbish fees and we’ve projected it will be about $27,000 just to dump the rubbish that is left here over the weekends.
“That’s money that would have gone into the community to help people in need.”
He said each Monday morning staff faced more and more rubbish being dumped at its location.
We’ve become the South Nowra dumping ground - the South Nowra tip in many ways.
- Nowra Salvation Army Lieutenant Matthew Sutcliffe
“Each and every Monday we are walking into more than a truckload of rubbish. And it is purely rubbish. Useless donations unfortunately,” he said.
“We have couches left that have big rips in them. Who would want to buy a couch like that? Or even have a use for a couch like that?
The Nowra Salvation Army spends more than $20,000 a year on dumping fees
That equates to:
“The only thing it is good for is to be thrown out and go to the tip.
“We’ve become the South Nowra dumping ground - the South Nowra tip in many ways.”
Lt Sutcliffe said while the organisation welcomed donations, the “dumping donations” took up a lot of time, resources and ultimately money to get rid of.
“It costs us a fortune to dump,” he said.
“And that money we spend on dumping fees is funds we could invest back into the community.
“We welcome donations well and truly - we love good donations but unfortunately when it is rubbish donations there is nothing we can do with it.”
He said the money being spent by the organisation on disposing of rubbish could be spent in a variety of ways.
“$20,000 is 200 homeless swags we could use, 200 nights accommodation we could give people, well over 1000 people we could assist or 2500 blankets we could give people in winter,” he said.
The money we spend on dumping fees is money we could invest back into the community to help people in need.
- Nowra Salvation Army Lieutenant Matthew Sutcliffe
“There is a real personal loss that means we just can assist the community the way we’d like to because of the rubbish that’s dumped here.”
He also warned any would-be dumpers the South Nowra complex was equipped with CCTV and they would be caught and possibly face charges.
“We have cameras all around the building that can pick up people who are dumping and Shoalhaven City Council’s rangers are happy for us to provide photos and video footage and they can then send people infringement notices,” he said.
“But it shouldn't have to come to that. It is illegal to dump here.
“We’ve got the red bins here where people can leave donations and we are also open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and we’re always happy to receive your donations during that time. During our business time is the best time to donate or you are more than welcome to ring us and organise a pick up from our truck.”
Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
