Volunteers at a small community op-shop in Perth say they’re spending large amounts of time dealing with unhygienic or dangerous donations.

Needles, cockroaches and bodily fluids are just some of the things volunteers at Subiaco op-shop Earthwise encounter on a regular basis.

Shop coordinator Jen Korab says being exposed to such hazards is causing burnout, frustration and fear among her volunteers.

“It’s a big risk to have uncapped needles among donations,” she says.

“We have to pause when sorting through all our donations and shake things to see if anything dangerous falls out.”

According to Charitable Reuse Australia, out of 310,000 tonnes of clothing items donated to op-shops every year, 14 per cent is deemed waste and sent to landfill.

Ms Korab says a quarter of the things Earthwise receives are unusable.

“We’ve gotten a broken stove, 43 tyres, someone who emptied their entire shed but didn’t actually clean any of the tools, so we found redback spiders and lizards,” she says.

“We were really scared we might find a snake there.”

 Earthwise volunteer Karen Haywood says another problem is people’s attitude towards donations.

“It’s…people who say ‘do you want the donation or not?’ And sometimes you feel like saying ‘no, I don’t’,” she says.

“Now, I ask them whether they are clean because it’s me who has to deal with that.”

Ms Haywood says the pressure to always remain cordial and deal with bad donations affects her.

“I keep it all to myself and that is not good because you bottle up and bottle up until you explode,” she says.

Large Australian op-shop chains have more resources to deal with unsuitable donations more efficiently.

Vinnies director of social enterprises Carl Prowse says while it’s rare for volunteers and staff to encounter needles or other dangerous items, sifting through poor quality donations still has an impact.

“In our Canning Vale distribution centre, we have all paid sorters, who deal with a significant volume of stock,” he says.

“When I speak to volunteers, sometimes they are so upset that Vinnies are being used to get rid of this rubbish, and we are left with the costs and the headache to get rid of it.”

Mr Prowse says people should be more considerate of volunteers when donating to avoid burnout and dangerous situations.

“Remember the golden rule: If you want to donate it, would you be able to give it to your friend?”