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Salvation Army spends thousands to dispose of dirty donations

By John Paul, wsoctv.com
By John Paul, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Salvation Army was busy Tuesday collecting donations that poured in on #GivingTuesday and the warehouse the organization runs on Central Avenue was buzzing with activity.

"We do have a spike in our donations for today,” Capt. Brett Cundiff said. “Our trucks will be running all day."

Channel 9 learned that some of those trucks are bringing back donations that will actually cost the organization money.

[PHOTOS: Dirty donations at The Salvation Army]

"You can see the stuff that's in there now, these are the items we could not process or sell because they are just too dirty," Cundiff said, pointing out a large dumpster full of items.

The dumpster contained soiled cushions and couches, broken electronics and wrecked furniture. Employees also snapped photographs of piles of garbage and stained chairs.

All those items are compacted into the 10,000-pound dumpster and hauled away at least once a week, at a cost of at least $10,000 a month.

Some months, the Salvation Army has paid as much as $14,000 for disposal.

"We had a semi-truck that backed up, who had cleaned out a hotel -- a really seedy motel -- and they left 73 mattresses behind our store," Cundiff said.

The Salvation Army wants the public to think twice before donating items that can't be sold, so they don't end up hurting the organization that helps so many.

"Most people have the best intentions," Cundiff said. "A lot of times, it will end up in here if it's bad."

Cundiff doesn't want to discourage donations, but hopes people will check The Salvation Army's website to find out what it can and cannot accept.

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