NORWICH – Burdened by a growing number of undesirable things – and an incredible financial expense to get rid of them – Roots and Wings of Catholic Charities in Norwich is asking patrons to be more considerate when donating used items.

The organization announced last week that it will no longer be accepting donations on weekends and after hours on weekdays due to an influx of items not fit to donate. Catholic Charities hopes to clamp the flow of unwanted donations that are costing it as much as $50 per week in tipping fees at the landfill, plus the additional expenses of emptying the Roots and Wings dumpster more often.

“Unfortunately, this problem is not new,” said Roots and Wings Program Director Melinda Mandeville. “We receive a lot of undesirable donations that we just can’t use, and it’s costing us.”

Mandeville said unwanted items range from excessively tattered furniture, mattresses and clothing, to old (and often times inoperable) electronics and household gadgets.

In one instance, Mandeville said cameras captured a pickup-truck that dumped worn furniture in a heap next to the loading dock.