Don't use our charity stores as a dumping ground – that's the plea from the Salvation Army.
The charity says its west Auckland offices are being targeted, with people dumping everything from food waste to dirty nappies.
The Sallies says it also has a problem with scavenging.
"They're obviously treating it as a dumping ground," says New Lynn Salvation Army's Major Russell Sawyer.
Food waste, soiled clothing, stained mattresses, broken toys – you name it, it gets dumped.
The Salvation Army says it is an expert at helping people in need, but not rubbish collection.
Yet people use them as a tip, and it's all been caught on camera. 3 News has obtained CCTV footage of people dumping during the day and at night.
While it's hard to tell if the items are useable, footage of people tipping out rubbish bins would suggest they're not.
Scavenging is also a huge problem, with people stealing legitimate items that would have otherwise been sold by the charity.
Now it's up to the Salvation Army to get rid of all the junk by loading up the truck and taking it to the tip, with each load costing the Sallies $175.
Last financial year, the problem cost the New Lynn store alone $37,000.
Neighbouring businesses are also fed up by the mess, and it's not just New Lynn. At the Glen Eden shop around the corner, staff had cleared alcohol bottles, and even a dirty nappy.
The Sallies say it is always there to help. It just wants people to come through the front door and ask for it, and not to use the premises as a rubbish dump.
3 News
