Charities warn bags left outside is 'fly-tipping'

A charity has warned that bags of donations left outside its shops when they are closed could be classed as fly‑tipping.

Dove House Hospice in Hornsea said "piles" of black bags have been left outside when its shops are closed.

Sheena Kidd from the charity said: "There's high quality things inside the bag but, because they've got wet, the mice have been at them, or a dog wees on them, we can't use them."

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: "Leaving bags of donations outside a closed charity shop could be considered fly-tipping."

The charity has 34 shops which raise nearly half of the money needed to run Dove House Hospice.

Head of retail Jennifer Rowan said it was "disappointing" when items which could generate money for the charity became damaged.

"We do encourage customers to donate within our opening hours," she added.

The Hornsea and District Lions group said it had also encountered issues. The groups' store will be closed for a week over Christmas and reopens on 3 January.

Linda Jackson, who works in the shop, said: "We put a sign up usually saying when we're closed, asking people not to leave bags.

Despite the closed sign, staff have to return to the store each day to move bags indoors, she added.

"They all get piled up against the door and we can't get into the shop," she said.

"If they get wet, we can't sell them and we've got to dispose of them and it's such a shame. If they just wait till after Christmas it would be great.

"It's a bit of a nuisance over the holidays," she added.

Robin Osterley, chief executive of the Charity Retail Association, said: "Charity shops are not household waste dumps. They are there to make money for their parent charity.

"You are inconveniencing staff and volunteers by leaving stuff outside the shop and you're causing them cost in having to clear them up.

"The message is it's illegal. Please don't do it," he added.

The council said: "Anyone found to be fly-tipping could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of up to £1,000, or if prosecuted, an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison."

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