‘Donations’ cost more to Lifeline

LIFELINE Darling Downs chief executive officer Derek Tuffield said only a small number of people had misused the service’s donation bins over the Christmas season.

“About 95 per cent of people used the bins properly this Christmas season,” he said.

“There has only been a small number of people who have been leaving things by the bins that cannot be used.”

“These are usually bigger items such as arm chairs, couches and mattresses which are torn, shredded or soiled, which costs us to remove them.”

Mr Tuffield said the costs included cleaning the sites, the fuel to transport the items and the disposal costs at the proper facilities.

“It is a shame there are people who misuse this service because the donations from the bins are vital to funding our services,” he said.

Items that can be donated include clothing, household items and bric-a-brac and items that cannot fit in the containers can be donated to one of the organisation’s stores.

Lifeline’s collection service empties the bins seven days a week.

Mr Tuffield said if the bins were full, the best thing people could do was to either take them to a store or come back when the container was empty.

For more information about donating, phone 4688 3706.