Household Textile Collections

Beware of Bogus Used-Clothing/Textiles Collectors!

Most householders in the city regularly receive leaflets advising of door-to-door collections of clothing, footwear etc. They are asked to leave out in bags on a particular day for collection.

How to Spot Bogus Used-Clothing/Textiles Collectors?

As clothing and textiles are reusable items, they are not classified as waste, and as such, fall outside the regulatory framework for domestic waste streams. Bogus collectors will often quote a permit or charity (CHY) number on their leaflets but these are often found to have no basis whatsoever.

The only way to check if a collection is for a genuine charity, is to check if that charity is authorised by the Revenue Commissioners.

The following link to the Revenue Commissioners' website may be used to verify whether or not a particular charity is authorised.

http://www.revenue.ie/en/business/authorised-charities.html

However, even if the collection is for a genuine registered charity, bogus collectors may still intervene and remove a bag before the genuine charity arrives.

What is the Attraction for Bogus Used-Clothing/Textiles Collectors?

Old clothing may be deemed to be waste by a householder but such clothing can provide a valuable source of income for a bogus collector. In many instances, many items left out for collection, in good faith, by householders end up being dumped illegally because bogus collectors 'cherry pick' the best items and export these for re-sale before dumping the remainder.

Householders should bear in mind, that an intended act of charity may result in an instance of illegal dumping and damage to the environment rather than of benefit to the intended charity. If illegally dumped textiles or clothing are traced back to a householder, then that householder may also be subject to a fines and/or a prosecution under litter or waste management legislation.

So, What is the Best Way to Dispose of Used Clothing/Textiles?

It is important that householders should either recycle or offer old items for re-use. For such items to end up in a landfill site, would be a true waste!

If, as a householder, you have any doubt about the bona-fides of a collector, you should instead, use a collector known to you to be genuine or bring items to a local charity shop such as those operated by Age Action, Bóthar, CPI, Enable Ireland, and  Oxfam etc. Shops operated by these charities generally accept bags, bed linen, belts, footwear and other items.  

Clothing Banks

Clothing (including Footwear) Receptacles have also bean provided at a number of marked Limerick City Council Bring Bank sites across the city as well as at the Civic Amenity Site at Park Road, Rhebogue.

Note however that some clothing receptacles may have bean placed in accessible locations on private property across the city. These should not be used to dispose of old clothing and footware unless it is beyond doubt that a particular receptacle is provided and maintained by a genuine charity.  

Bear in mind that the same housekeeping rules apply to all receptacles at a Bring Bank Site.

          

Can Limerick City Council Stop Individuals Posting Leaflets Through Letter Flaps?

Limerick City Council has no legislative role in the control of such material. This activity takes place on private property and leaflets which land inside the doorway of a dwelling are out of view from any public road. It is for householders alone to control access to their property. Some householders have reported that the placement of a small warning sign has been effective in this regard.

(POG 20100927)