Council will ask charity groups to consider alternatives to the bins after mayor Liz Campbell moved a notice of motion at the most recent meeting on Tuesday.

“My intent is certainly not to place hardship on charity organisations,” Cr Campbell said.

“There is a problem with bins being burnt … and a problem with people thinking the bins are places to put household refuse.”

Council’s Infrastructure Services director Robert Scott said dumping of rubbish at donation bins was becoming an increasing concern in the Shire.

“We’re working more and more with the charity organisations to assist them with rubbish removal,” he said.

“I’m certainly afraid we’re not going to see less dumping, in fact we’ll probably see it happening a lot more.”

The executive officer for the Lismore Council of St Vincent de Paul Michael Timbrell said charity groups were spending hundreds of thousands a year disposing of items dumped next to charity bins.

“It’s the biggest cost to our centres,” he said.

In a letter to The Argus, Lifeline Mid North Coast business manager Kurt Russell said removing the bins would seriously impede charity organisations.

“Removing charity bins will have a drastic effect on our revenue raising opportunities,” he said.

“The fact that a small percentage of the community willingly dump on us, by placing unsaleable larger items around our bins, is not the fault of the charities or the bins.

“We offer free pick up and there is always the opportunity to drop off at the shop itself.

“We have become a waste service for the community, at great cost to our organisation.”

Mr Russell suggested a more comprehensive look at waste disposal across the Shire may be a better solution than removing the bins.