Selfish, lazy and disappointing. This is how frustrated Maitland mayor Loretta Baker described the continual dumping of goods beside charity bins in the city's centre. Cr Baker said she was at a loss trying to figure out a solution to the ongoing issue, other than asking the charity to remove the bins completely. "But that's not the answer because the charity is not at fault," she said. Cr Baker was speaking after the Mercury had received a number of complaints about the eyesore of overflowing charity bins in the car park at Church Street in the CBD - one of the city's main entry points. It reached a peak on Monday morning when an old, mouldy mattress was dumped alongside piles of clothing at the base of the bins. "This is a problem everywhere, in every town," Cr Baker admitted. "I know charities have been calling out for years about it … it's most unfair." In other news: Mouthwatering treats await at Maitland's 2019 Taste Festival Aside from the clothes and torn mattress, there was also assorted glassware and odd shoes littered around the two yellow bins. The company overseeing those hubs, SCR Group, said while most people do the right thing, it's the few who don't who cast a negative light on clothing drop off points. "We mainly accept items you can wear - clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories - as well as small toys and bed linen," a spokesperson said. "We either find second homes for them in local and global communities where the items are needed most, or we recycle them. "We work with a local Australian Disability Enterprise, who services these hubs. This creates local jobs for people living with a disability." Unlike some charity bins, the SCR Group hubs accept items in all conditions, with a mission to limit landfill. "We ask the community to place all of their items inside the clothing hub chute, and not leave anything beside the hub," the spokesperson said. "Dumping anything beside clothing hubs is illegal and will attract thieves." In other news: Thunderstorm predicted for Maitland on Wednesday SCR Group said the Central Maitland hubs were serviced every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and contractors were responsible for passing on information about the state of the area regularly. Outside of those days, there is a 24-hour hotline for reporting illegal dumping - 1300 372 842. SCR are planning to add two more bins to the Church Street site to help alleviate the overflow. Cr Baker is urging people to consider the effect of their actions beyond themselves. "I'd like them to think before they do that and the impact it has on charity, on the businesses and on the appearance of the city which we're trying to build to make a vibrant, interesting city with a lovely aesthetic, which we have," she said. "We don't want it strewn with rubbish." While you're with us, do you know the Maitland Mercury is now offering breaking news alerts and tri-weekly email newsletters? Keep up-to-date with all the local news - sign up here.
MESSY: The Church Street car park SCR Group hubs in Central Maitland on Monday morning. If you see someone illegally dumping by these bins, you can report it by calling 1300 372 842.
Selfish, lazy and disappointing.
This is how frustrated Maitland mayor Loretta Baker described the continual dumping of goods beside charity bins in the city's centre.
Cr Baker said she was at a loss trying to figure out a solution to the ongoing issue, other than asking the charity to remove the bins completely.
"But that's not the answer because the charity is not at fault," she said.
Cr Baker was speaking after the Mercury had received a number of complaints about the eyesore of overflowing charity bins in the car park at Church Street in the CBD - one of the city's main entry points.
It reached a peak on Monday morning when an old, mouldy mattress was dumped alongside piles of clothing at the base of the bins.
"This is a problem everywhere, in every town," Cr Baker admitted. "I know charities have been calling out for years about it … it's most unfair."
Aside from the clothes and torn mattress, there was also assorted glassware and odd shoes littered around the two yellow bins.
The company overseeing those hubs, SCR Group, said while most people do the right thing, it's the few who don't who cast a negative light on clothing drop off points.
"We mainly accept items you can wear - clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories - as well as small toys and bed linen," a spokesperson said.
"We either find second homes for them in local and global communities where the items are needed most, or we recycle them.
"We work with a local Australian Disability Enterprise, who services these hubs. This creates local jobs for people living with a disability."
Unlike some charity bins, the SCR Group hubs accept items in all conditions, with a mission to limit landfill.
"We ask the community to place all of their items inside the clothing hub chute, and not leave anything beside the hub," the spokesperson said.
"Dumping anything beside clothing hubs is illegal and will attract thieves."
SCR Group said the Central Maitland hubs were serviced every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and contractors were responsible for passing on information about the state of the area regularly.
Outside of those days, there is a 24-hour hotline for reporting illegal dumping - 1300 372 842.
SCR are planning to add two more bins to the Church Street site to help alleviate the overflow.
Cr Baker is urging people to consider the effect of their actions beyond themselves.
"I'd like them to think before they do that and the impact it has on charity, on the businesses and on the appearance of the city which we're trying to build to make a vibrant, interesting city with a lovely aesthetic, which we have," she said.
"We don't want it strewn with rubbish."
While you're with us, do you know the Maitland Mercury is now offering breaking news alerts and tri-weekly email newsletters? Keep up-to-date with all the local news - sign up here.
