Sudbury thrift store sees increase in garbage donated after landfill fee implemented by the city

Pet Save Re'Tail Store, a charity thrift store located on Notre Dame Avenue in Greater Sudbury, is seeing an increase in items considered garbage since the city implemented its $5 landfill fee last month.

Pet Save Re'Tail Store on Notre Dame Avenue in Greater Sudbury, Ont. on August 8, 2024. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News Northern Ontario)

Kari Fabiilli, the store’s staff coordinator, said there was a 30 to 40 per cent increase in garbage in July compared to the year before.

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"We have to wait for extra pick-ups," she said.

"We're also doing dump runs because the garbage just can't obviously stay at the store. Is it a coincidence that you know, we've seen an increase? I don't know. But I think it has a little bit to do with it for sure."

Fabiilli said that a number of donated items have been broken, rusty, mouldy and overall, not suitable to sell.

"We have had some food drop-offs that are, you know, the expiration date was 2020," she said.

"This was last week, most notably, and I don't want to call anyone out or shame anybody. But, you know, there was a bag that I had gone through and there was a vacuum cleaner bag full, full of debris."

Garbage costs cutting into the non-profits charitable work

The thrift store is Pet Save's main source of income, with the non-profit expending $1.3 million annually.

Jill Pessot, Pet Save’s director, said the charity's primary focus is to help animals, with the thrift store 98 per cent run by volunteers.

Typically, the thrift store ends up throwing away 10 to 15 per cent of its donations – but now, Pessot told CTV News it is closer to 20 to 25 per cent.

A big of garbage bags after volunteers at Pet Save's thrift shop in Greater Sudbury go through donations left at the store. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News Northern Ontario)

"We understand the economy is tight and people are looking to save money or may not have the money," she said.

"But we've seen a huge increase in our garbage portion of our donations at our thrift store, and that's that that's really concerning for us because we already had a fairly large dollar value each month for garbage."

Last month, the organization spent $1,400 in garbage fees and Pessot said $1,000 would cover the non-profit’s cost for spaying four cats.

"We were already struggling with increased costs this year with our vet bills topping out at $50,000 a month due to the influx of animals. We're already struggling with increased costs," she said.

"So the $1,400 really comes away from our vet care. We try and make every effort to keep our operating costs low so that our profit margins go straight to the animals."

Some on council still oppose the fee

Recently, city councillor Mike Parent, who represents Ward 5 which includes the Re’Tail shop, sought to pass a motion to have the landfill fees reconsidered, but it was defeated by council.

He said he still hears complaints from businesses and residents about the fee.

"I've received enough concerns from constituents and from businesses about this that I hope to have a conversation with all my peers about maybe coming up with some alternatives to this while still achieving the goals and making sure that adequate revenues are brought in to maintain our landfills," he said.

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City officials said it could not comment on Pet Save's situation directly, but said there are a number of options for garbage disposal.

City staff say fee is doing what it was meant to

"People have to be responsible for their own waste," said Robyn White, Manager of Solid Waste Support Services.

"We have lots of great options at the roadside for managing your waste for residents. We have unlimited collection of large furniture, appliances and electronics, unlimited blue box, unlimited green cards, a little bit unlimited leaf and yard trimmings into garbage bags or containers every other week."

White said so far, the landfill fee has been successful and there are no plans to change it in the interim.

"The fee is so far doing what it was meant to do," she said.

"We have seen a decrease in the number of small loads being received at the landfill. We don't have people going in with one or two garbage bags."

She said the city offers a program to non-profits to recoup losses at the end of the year through a tipping fee rebate.

Pet Save volunteers emphasize that they are grateful for the donations – but said certain items won't be accepted.

The start of a load of garbage at Pet Save's Re'Tail Store on Notre Dame Avenue in Greater Sudbury, Ont., which staff says is all items that were to be donated to the thrift shop. (Supplied/Pet Save/Jill Jill Pessot)

"We are very grateful for all donations that are coming in and the support because Pet Save doesn't receive any government funding," Fabiilli said.

Be considerated, no unwanted items please

"All we ask is people to be considerate and to review the items being donated," she added.

"You know, we can't accept things that are chipped or broken or rusty or missing parts and pieces."

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Some items Pet Save can't accept include:

• baby items
• broken appliances
• building materials
• men's suits, trench coats
• older style televisions
• mattresses, pillows
• textbooks
• knives
• punchbowls
• light fixtures
• tires
• mouldy clothing, linens or other fabrics
• helmets, life jackets
• exercise equipment
• paint

Volunteers advised CTV News that that a full list of unwanted items is posted at store.