Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the Better Practice Program for Charitable Recyclers would take effect next year and would include grants for charities to implement measures such as lighting and fencing and education to discourage dumping.
The program will be complemented by the Department of Environment Regulation's illegal dumping team, which will patrol dumping hot spots and use covert electronic surveillance to identify offenders.
"Most people do the right thing but the illegal dumping of unwanted goods at charitable premises is a significant and growing problem," Mr Jacob said.
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READ NOW�While WA's rate of casual littering is coming down, the incidence of illegally dumping rubbish is still very high.
"When people thoughtlessly dump their damaged or unwanted goods at charity bins and stores, the charity is then left to cover the costs of handling and disposal, which in some cases can amount to many thousands of dollars."
The Waste Authority is leading discussions on the initiative with charitable recyclers such as the Red Cross, Good Samaritan Industries, Salvation Army, Spine and Limb Foundation, Anglicare WA, St Vincent de Paul Society, Save the Children, People Who Care and the RSPCA WA.
Debbie Cameron of Good Samaritan Industries said theft, vandalism and illegal dumping cost the charity more than money.
"In terms of dumping, in the past financial year we incurred more than $200,000 in costs disposing of other people's rubbish, money that has to be diverted away from our mission-related activities," she said.