A pile of bags filled with donations have been dumped outside a charity shop in Ammanford even though the shop is closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The donations outside of the Barnardo’s shop in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, have stacked up so much that they have blocked the entrance.
The charity shop is currently closed due to Covid-19 regulations and therefore not able to accept bags of donated goods.
Charity shops across Wales have been closed since the Welsh Government announced all non-essential retail was to close from December 20.
Residents have said they have been left disgusted and angered by the sight of the donations dumped outside the charity shop and have urged people to keep their donations until after lockdown.
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(Image: Media Wales)
One local said: “Obviously people have gone there, seen that it’s closed and just dumped them there anyway. I worry that they’ll end up in the bin now – such a waste.”
St David’s Hospice Care in Newport also had donations left outside one of their shops last summer after all charity shops closed due to lockdown in March.
Signs in the Ammanford shop window ask donators not to leave any donations outside, as this is effectively classed as fly-tipping but many have ignored these warnings.
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People are being encouraged to keep hold of items they wish to donate to charity shops, clothing banks or recycling centres until they open again.
Sara Gifford, regional manager of retail operations for Barnardo’s, said: “Charities across the UK have closed retail stores and are following government guidelines on non-essential travel by instructing staff and volunteers to stay at home.
“Barnardo’s have prominent posters in the windows asking the public not to leave any donations outside our shops.
What is fly-tipping?
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“We are however still getting reports of items left at our sites. This constitutes fly tipping, which needs to be cleared, especially where there is an environmental health concern, fire risk or it might limit access for key services. We are aware this is part of a general increase in fly tipping in many areas, with household waste recycling centres closed and most bulky waste collections suspended.
“Charities are grateful for the council waste services which continue to operate and are best placed to help avoid accumulation of fly tipped waste, although we understand they may be stretched at present. We would ask members of the public to please hold onto their donations until the shops re-open, when they will be gratefully received.”
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