What Not to Donate to Op Shops: A Guide to Donating Responsibly (2026)

Donating your pre-loved goods is a way to support charities and promote sustainability. However, not all donations are helpful. Knowing what not to donate to op shops is important. The rule is: if an item is broken, damaged, stained, or unsafe, it should not be donated.

While it may seem like you’re giving an item a second chance, donating unusable goods costs charities millions of dollars each year in waste management fees. This takes money away from their community programs. Being a responsible donor means to ensure your contributions are a help.

The golden rule: if you wouldn’t give it to a friend, don’t donate it

Before you bag up your items, ask yourself: “Would I give this to a friend or family member?” If the answer is no because the item is stained, broken, or missing pieces, then it’s not suitable for donation. Charities rely on receiving quality items they can sell to fund their work, as explained in our guide on how op shops work.

Top 10 items you should not donate

Here is a list of common items that op shops are generally unable to accept. Putting these in the donation bin often does more harm than good.

1. Broken, damaged, or incomplete items: This includes anything with missing parts, chips, cracks, or that is fundamentally broken. Items must be in working condition to be sold.
2. Dirty, stained, or ripped clothing: All clothing should be clean and wearable. Items with stains, rips, or holes are typically discarded.
3. Used underwear and socks: For hygiene reasons, most op shops cannot accept used underwear or socks. For more detail, see our specific guide: Can you donate underwear to op shops?
4. Large household appliances: Whitegoods like fridges, washing machines, and dishwashers are generally not accepted due to the difficulty in transport, storage, and safety testing.
5. Mattresses and pillows: For health and hygiene reasons, used mattresses, bedding, and pillows are not accepted by most charities.
6. Dangerous or recalled items: This is a major safety category. It includes expired child car seats, unsafe cots, recalled toys, and helmets that have been in an accident.
7. Most electronics: While some charities accept electronics, many cannot due to the cost and complexity of electrical safety testing. See our guide to donating electronics for specifics.
8. Hazardous materials: This includes chemicals, paint, batteries, gas bottles, or any flammable materials. These are illegal to donate.
9. Personal papers or records: Items with personal information should be shredded and disposed of securely, not donated.
10. Food and perishables: Op shops are not equipped to handle food donations. Contact a local food bank instead.

What to do with unsuitable items

If your items fall into the “do not donate” category, there are still ways to dispose of them responsibly. Rather than illegal dumping, consider these options:

• Council clean-up: Many local councils offer periodic waste collection services.
• Recycling centres: For items like electronics and mattresses, specialised recycling facilities are an option. The Australian Government’s Recycling Near You website is a tool for finding local solutions.
• Textile recycling: Some brands and organisations offer recycling programs for worn-out clothing.

By donating thoughtfully, you ensure that you are truly helping the charities you intend to support. Thank you for being a considerate donor!