Local unleashes over ‘disgraceful’ act on Aussie street
The image of piles of unwanted clothing outside charity bins is indicative of a huge problem across the country.
The end of the year is an opportunity to have a clear out of unwanted household possessions. But one Aussie woman has called out a ‘disgraceful’ act ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Posting damning images to social media, the woman expressed her fury that other local residents left their unwanted items outside a charity donation bin. “Grab yourself a new outfit for New Year’s Eve. Lots of variety. Price is right. You couldn’t be disappointed,” the woman wrote sarcastically before adding: “Who would do this? Disgraceful.”
The photos were taken in Tweed Heads, on the border of New South Wales and Queensland which, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, is certain to be hit with a rain event on the evening of December 31.
The images are indicative of a common occurrence that recycling companies grapple with every few days and the items will inevitably have to be thrown into landfill.
Locals express their dismay at common problem
Spotting the photo on social media, many locals were quick to express their frustration at the problem.
“This is normal now sadly,” said one disappointed local. “Happens at my job all the time too, they see a bin and throw everything around it for someone else to deal with. Once one person does it, everyone follows. People have just become selfish, lazy and entitled they don't care to do the right thing.”
“They could take their stuff home until everything opens or the bins are emptied,” said another. “This is disgusting people should be ashamed of themselves if the bins are full, don’t leave it there,” added a third.
"Wow it will be a sodden stinking rotting mess after all the rain we will get tonight," pointed out another.
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‘Create a dialogue’ says expert
Riley Aickin from textile recovery and recycling organisation Upparel previously told Yahoo that creating a “dialogue” with the charity about donations is important.
"It's about conscious donating rather than 'I don't want this anymore so now it's someone else's problem'," he told Yahoo News Australia. "Go to your local Salvos when they're open and ask, 'what do you need?' and if it can't be donated, use a recycling service.”
Aussies are obsessed with fast-fashion
Australia is the world's second-biggest consumer of textiles per person per year, behind the United States. Each Australian disposes of a whopping 23 kilos of clothes annually, roughly the weight of a school-aged child.
According to environmental group Clean Up, each of us purchases almost 60 garments every year — most of which are made from non-sustainable, non-durable materials. If you don't personally have a big bag of clothes sitting in the back of your boot waiting for a "Salvos or Vinnies drop", you almost certainly know someone who does.
One solution that has so far seen "incredible, brilliant" results, has brought our clothes right back to where they started: the cotton crops, in a "world-first trial" and major "full-circle moment".
Cotton Research and Development Corporation's (CRDC) Dr Meredith Conaty is among those leading the trial — in collaboration with Cotton Australia. She recently told Yahoo News how this "clothing graveyard" has the potential to transform the entire industry.
"We've known for a long time that cotton is biodegradable and we also know textile waste is such a huge problem, so it was just the logical next-step [to bring clothes back to the crops]," Conaty told Yahoo. Read more about the initiative here.
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