BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Some mornings, the Goodwill Industries collection center here resembles a junk heap rather than a charitable donations site.

Instead of receiving donated goods, the charity is bombarded after hours with donated garbage that it spends thousands of dollars to dispose.

Worn-out chairs, soiled mattresses and torn couches are often illegally disposed outside Goodwill by people trying to get rid of their garbage without going to a landfill.

“Every morning when we come in, there is stuff dumped out front,” said Caroline Thomas, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit organization that provides education, training and career services for disadvantaged and disabled people.

“There are things that are not even usable. We can’t sell it in the store.”

Dealing with other people’s garbage hurts organizations such as Goodwill that rely on donations of new and used clothing, appliances and furniture to sell at retail stores. The charities have to do extra work and spend thousands of dollars to get rid of other people’s trash.

The Birmingham Goodwill spends an average of $200 a week to carry illegally dumped items to the landfill, according to Thomas. The organization also pays employees to clean up. Thomas said an average of six employee hours a week are spent tidying the area because scavengers leave items scattered around.

“The money could go toward programs to train and place people in employment,” Thomas said.

Other charities encounter similar woes.

Tim Alvis, president and chief operations officer for Alabama Thrift Stores Inc., which does business as America’s Thrift Stores, said the organization’s landfill cost is about a $1 million a year for discarding items that cannot be used.

He said the amount could top $2 million if the charity did not work at controlling its landfill costs through recycling and selling wholesale. The organization distributed more than $2.5 million to ministries such as Hannah Home and Kings Ranch.

Alvis said the organization is thankful for the public’s generosity and won’t turn any item down.

“We try to do the best we can with them,” Alvis said.

As technology changes, Alvis said the organization is bracing for an onslaught of computer monitors and television sets with picture tubes, all designated as hazardous materials.

“We will end up having to pay to dispose of it,” Alvis said.

Some charities have tried to curb illegal dumping by removing drop-off boxes and unattended donation trailers that were typically placed outside businesses and off highways. It wasn’t unusual for animal carcasses or leaves to be left in garbage bags.

Thomas of Goodwill said the problem persists despite such efforts.

“I’m pretty sure every thrift store has this problem,” she said.

Alvis said America’s Thrift Stores still rely on drop boxes. He said illegal dumping in rural, isolated areas can be problematic with people dropping off worn-out furniture. The charities also have to deal with people stealing.

Thomas said Goodwill continues to explore ways to thwart the illegal dumping, but so far no luck.

“We haven’t really found a solution to the problem,” she said.

PH END WALTON

(Val Walton is a staff writer for the Birmingham (Ala.) News and can be contacted at vwalton(at)bhamnews.com.)

2007-12-28-CHARITY-GARBAGE

AP-NY-12-28-07 1312EST