Meadowbank resident Galina Nechayeva left a box of glassware and clothes on a ledge next to the entrance of the Glen Innes Salvation Army Family Store outside opening hours.
Meadowbank resident Galina Nechayeva left a box of glassware and clothes on a ledge next to the entrance of the Glen Innes Salvation Army Family Store outside opening hours.
Meadowbank resident Galina Nechayeva told the Herald she has been making monthly donations to the Glen InnesSalvation Army Family Store.
On Sunday, February 23, she left a box of glassware and clothes in a shopping bag on a ledge next to the store entrance, out of the way of the entrance.
“It was not dumped, it wasn’t in the walk-in area, and it wasn’t a mess.”
However, on March 3, she received a letter from Auckland Council saying that leaving the bag outside the store constituted littering, and after an investigation, she could receive an instant $400 fine.
The letter showed CCTV footage of Nechayeva parking in front of the store and carrying the bag to the front of the store.
Nechayeva said she didn’t see the sign requesting that donors bring their items during opening hours and didn’t realise it would be a problem.
“If it’s really there, of course I would not do this,” she said.
Meadowbank resident Galina Nechayeva left a box of glassware and clothes on a ledge next to the entrance of the Glen Innes Salvation Army Family Store outside opening hours.
Auckland Council waste solutions general manager Justine Haves said leaving donations outside op shops out of hours was a problem.
“Not all items are accepted by shops, the bags will often be broken into, some items taken, other items are strewn across the footpath creating a hazard and making them unfit for sale, and there are health and safety issues,” she said.
“For these reasons, it is treated as illegal dumping. Anything left after the store is closed is often put straight into their landfill bin in the morning by the staff.”
Haves said items dumped on a public footpath were Auckland Council’s responsibility to clear.
In cases where items have been dumped on private land, disposal is the responsibility of the owner/occupier, she said.
“Even if the dumped items are on op shop property, it’s a significant cost to the op shops in disposing of the items, which often get wet and soiled, and there is a loss of revenue when people take the dumped items that were meant to be donated.”
Salvation Army territorial director of family stores Gareth Marshall said while the organisation cannot comment on individual cases, the council’s bylaws state illegal dumping on public land can result in a $400 fine.
“We continue to take donations with a smile and encourage people to do so. Donations can be brought to any of our Family Stores across the motu during business hours or by calling 0800 4 COLLECT to arrange a free pick-up.”
Nechayeva still encouraged people to donate to charity shops, but said they should be very cautious about how they do it.
“Yes, you can help, but you need to be very careful in case something like this happens, and you can be fined.”
