Donating Responsibly

Donating unwanted or used goods is a great way to support charities and divert waste from landfill. Before donating, it’s important to make sure that all items are in good condition and of a saleable quality.

While often donated with the best of intentions, dirty, damaged, or otherwise unsaleable items are a significant burden to charities. NSW charities spend millions of dollars each year disposing of poor-quality donations, diverting much needed funds from social welfare programs and other initiatives to help disadvantaged people.

So how can you ensure that you’re donating responsibly? 

Here are some simple tips to ensure your donated items can be sold by charity organisations:

• Are the items in good condition? Ask yourself whether you would be happy to receive the items from somebody else or if you’d be comfortable passing them onto a friend. Only proceed to donate if the answer is yes.
• Call your local charity store ahead of time to confirm whether the items you plan to donate are accepted. Different stores have different requirements for donations and not all stores may accept furniture, books, toys, clothing, or other commonly donated items.
• Whenever possible, take your items directly to a charity store during opening hours. That way, staff will be able to confirm that your items are suitable for resale by the store.
• When using a clothing or charity bin, please follow any signage and ensure items are placed entirely inside the bin. This ensures that donated goods are protected from the elements and makes it easier for charities to collect your donations. Leaving items beside clothing bins or outside of charity stores is considered illegal dumping and fines may apply. It costs charities over $1.5 million each year to disposed of illegally dumped material. 

If your unwanted or used goods don’t meet the requirements for donation to charity, there may be other options available to prevent them ending up in landfill.

Consider upcycling old furniture or listing items online to be sold or given away.

For more information on recycling used goods, visit RecylingNearYou.

If you are unable to donate, sell or recycle your items then make sure to dispose of them responsibly by booking a bulky waste collection. 

Clothing donations

Donating clothing you no longer wear or need is a great resource recovery initiative, reducing textile waste by extending the usable life of good-quality clothing. Most charitable organisations accept these donations.

Before donating, consider the following:

• Would you be happy to wear the item if it was given to you by a friend?
• Is the item free from rips, stains, odours, and pet hair?
• Do any zips, ties, buttons, and buckles on the item function well?

Your thoughtful donation will be appreciated if the answer to all three questions is ‘yes’. However, If the answer is ‘no’ to any of the above, the item is unlikely suitable for donation and should be recycled instead. See further down for information on recycling clothing not suitable for donation.

Where to donate?

Opshop.org has created a map of op shops throughout Australia. Click here to view several locations within Penrith. Remember to call ahead to confirm if the store is currently accepting clothing donations.

Alternatively, some specialised foundations accept donations of high-quality second-hand clothing and accessories, such as Dress for Success.

Dress for Success is a career support and styling service assisting women who have experienced hardship to overcome bias and discrimination when entering or re-entering the workforce. Donating high-quality corporate and designer clothing to this service will help their mission to empower women by dressing confidently and help them to gain financial independence.

Dressed for Success is set to open at a new location in Penrith in February 2025.

To find out more about their mission and to view their donation guidelines, click here.

Refer to the list below for similar organisations which accept various pre-loved items.

• Menswear: Dress for Work or Westcare Men’s Shelter
• Children’s Wear: The Dandelion Network
• Swimwear & Underwear: Support the Girls
• Footwear: Tread Lightly or Totally Workwear

Clothing not suitable for donation.

Clothing that cannot be donated due to damage or visible wear and tear and ‘fast fashion’ low quality items can still be disposed of responsibly to avoid causing damage to our environment. Used clothing can easily be repurposed as a rag or, with a little time and effort, converted into other practical items such as reusable shopping bags.

Penrith residents are encouraged to take advantage of the services provided by RecycleSmart for the collection and thoughtful disposal of textiles and clothing in sellable or unsellable condition. Head to our RecycleSmart page for information on booking a Power Pickup of textiles. For information on the types of textiles accepted, please visit the RecycleSmart website.

Other clothing and textile recycling services operating in Australia include:

• Textile Recyclers Australia (local)
• Upparel

These companies offer a convenient ‘from your door’ collection service for a nominated fee. Be sure to view their list of acceptable items, fees, and charges before deciding if this service suits you.