Residents in a Perth suburb have issued a public plea for those responsible to clean up a significant mess, after alarming images of an overflowing charity donation bin emerged online.
Community outrage over illegal dumping site
The photos, shared on a local Facebook community page on 12 January 2026, show a Vinnies donation bin on the grounds of St Columba’s Church in Bayswater completely overwhelmed. A large pile of damaged clothing and other items was scattered around the bin, rendering the area unusable and unsightly.
The resident who posted the images directly addressed the people who left the items, stating that while their intentions to donate may have been good, the result was a "significant mess" with most items now damaged and unusable. The post urged them to return and "do the right thing" by properly cleaning up and disposing of the items.
A sign on the bin clearly warns that leaving donations outside constitutes illegal dumping. Under Western Australia's Environmental Protection Act of 1936, prosecuted offenders can face penalties of up to $125,000.
Frustrated residents and charity response
The Facebook post quickly drew furious comments from the local community. Many dismissed the idea of good intentions, with one person stating the goal was simply "to get rid of the trash for free." Others pointed out that such clean-ups drain charity resources, leading many organisations to remove bins or only accept donations in-store.
Carl Prowse, Vinnies WA executive manager for social enterprise, confirmed the charity's responsibility for maintaining donation sites. He reported that the clothing shown in the images had been collected and the area cleaned on the morning after the post. A refreshed donation bin has been arranged to replace the existing one at the site.
Mr Prowse explained that Vinnies does not allocate extra resources for these situations, relying instead on a team of drivers who service bins across the metro area on a scheduled basis. Most bins are cleared once a week, with busier locations serviced twice. Extra collections are arranged when bins are reported full.
A call for responsible donating
The incident highlights a persistent problem for charities. Mr Prowse noted that periods like school holidays and the weeks after Christmas see a "noticeable increase" in donations, which can lead to bins filling faster than expected.
He strongly encouraged the public to act responsibly. "Leaving items outside bins can result in clothing being damaged by weather or contamination, meaning it can no longer be reused or recycled," he said. His advice for donors encountering a full bin is simple: return at a later time or take items to a nearby Vinnies store during opening hours.
The message from both the community and the charity is clear: illegal dumping at donation points is unacceptable, costly, and ultimately defeats the purpose of giving.
