Charity shop volunteer urges people to stop donating this common item | UK | News
A charity shop employee has implored the public to refrain from donating a certain common and popular item, labelling it as “absolutely ridiculous” and “rubbish”.
Charity shops are a favourite haunt for fashion enthusiasts seeking distinctive, affordable items whilst alleviating the strain on the environment caused by fast fashion. They’re typically brimming with a diverse assortment of goods ranging from clothing, footwear and accessories to books, trinkets, furniture and more.
There’s an abundance of choices that enable people to shop economically whilst backing a worthy cause, or simply seize some much-needed bargains amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Numerous individuals also contribute their unwanted items to charity shops, facilitating the decluttering of their homes whilst aiding shoppers in making cost-effective purchases.
Charity shop volunteer Vanessa, who posts online under the alias The Lit Spirit, took to TikTok to share a video spotlighting unviable and unsellable donations they frequently receive at the shop – makeup and beauty products.
“This is just some of the stuff that we in charity shops have to deal with,” Vanessa initiated before panning the camera to reveal a box teeming with used eyeshadow palettes, lip balms, makeup sponges, lip pencils, eyeliners and more.
Vanessa continued: “How do you think that we can resell this? Like, I’m sorry, this isn’t even the worst kind of donations that we receive.”
She then displayed a heavily worn makeup brush to the camera, its bristles caked in product, and remarked: “Yep, definitely gonna be selling that. Absolutely, wow.”
Vanessa was subsequently seen discarding some of the donations. She continued: “Absolutely ridiculous.”
Overlaying the footage, she included text which reads: “Please stop donating tat. Your trash is not our treasure.”
Within the comments section, fellow TikTok users were quick to voice their opinions. One person questioned: “Surely it’s easier for them to chuck it in the bin, rather than drop it off at your shop??”
To which another responded: “It’s well known, people take things to charity shops to rid themselves of the guilt of being wasteful.”
A third revealed: “someone at my charity shop donated a bag and there were literal dead slugs in it”. A fourth remarked: “It’s basically fly tipping.”
Another disclosed: “My mother ran a charity shop for 14 years. A guy gave in his grass cuttings in black bags.”
Someone else questioned: “It’s as if people are scared of the bin, like it’s ok to put useless stuff in a bin.” Another contributed: “how are people not embarrassed”.
Why are makeup donations unsuitable for charity shops?
Previously used makeup and beauty items present hygiene concerns – they can contain germs from contact with the previous owner’s hands and bacteria may result in a possible infection. Furthermore, the usable lifespan of these items generally extends only for several months, with out-of-date products risking causing skin reactions. The British Red Cross outlines items that should not be donated to charity shops and states: “Please do not donate these items. Disposing of them may cost money and divert funds away from people who need our help.” It further adds: “We do not sell items that present a hygiene risk in their use or handling.”
Regarding cosmetics it can accept, the charity clarifies: “We can accept new, unused cosmetics, aftershaves and perfumes if they remain sealed in their original packaging.”
