WAGGA charity stores are sorting up to 20 tonnes of clothing each month with little return on donations that could be sold in the shop.
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Vinnies Op Shop store manager Cassandra Nicholson said the store has been short on volunteers and were struggling to tackle "the mountain of donations" received week-on-week.
During peak donation periods, the Vinnies Op Shop processes 20 tonnes of clothing each month.
However, Ms Nicholson said there has been quite a lot of donations that are not good enough to take on to the shop floor.
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"Quite a lot of it doesn't make it into the store, but what isn't good enough to sell is processed into rags. So, everything we cannot sell we recycle," she said.
The store's collection centre on Peter Street accepts donation six days each week.
Ms Nicholson encouraged people to take advantage of the opening hours to make a donation. She said people interested in volunteer should reach out about their induction days.
"It is winter so we are looking for any woolen clothes and blankets. We cannot accept any electrical or baby capsules or prams," she said.
"When donating one must think if it's good enough to give to a friend, it is good enough to donate."
While Vinnies Op Shop processes a large quantity of unusable donations, other stores in the city have not been impacted as severely.
Riding for the Disabled Op Shop manager Pauline Roberts said the store does receives donations that cannot be sold-on, but they were fortunate it was not a regular occurrence.
"We do get donations that we cannot always use, but it is nothing nasty compared to the large charity stores," she said.
"Sometimes items are left outside the store, but we are lucky to have a shelter that protects it from weather damaged."
Ms Roberts said people should ring ahead when in doubt about what items could be donated. But, the rule of thumb is "anything except electrical, furniture and prams."
Wagga Base Hospital Auxiliary Op Shop's Pam Whiting said volunteers do sort through items of poor condition and some rubbish.
"We get some grubby stuff, but it's just something we have to put up with," she said. "What we are looking for are clean items, in a good condition."