Why some charity donations do more harm than good
Summary
Some charity shops run by hospices are receiving many donations that are dirty, broken, or incomplete, which they cannot sell. These unsellable items create extra costs, with some charities spending tens of thousands of pounds each year to dispose of waste.Key Facts
- St Barnabas Hospice in Lincoln and Dove House Hospice in Hull spent a total of £70,000 on waste disposal last year.
- Unsellable items include damaged toys, stained clothing, and objects missing parts or safety marks.
- St Barnabas Hospice’s flagship shop has raised over £2 million since 2022 but still faces waste disposal costs.
- Dove House Hospice relies heavily on donations, with only 13% of its £12 million annual costs covered by government funding.
- Both hospices operate many shops (St Barnabas: 23 shops; Dove House: 35 shops) that depend on donations for income.
- Waste costs come from items that cannot be recycled or resold, such as broken crockery and dirty soft toys.
- Dumping items outside shops, known as fly tipping, is a common problem causing more waste.
- The Charity Retail Association reports that nearly all its members face regular issues with unwanted dumped items.
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