Regional program manager for the Smith Family in the ACT Pierina Luchessi says charities are often left to pay for the removal and disposal of up to a third of the items donated.

''We have to organise for it to be taken to the tip, which costs us money. And that's money we should really be spending on our clients and people who are in need,'' she said.

''So it does take away from the support that we can give to our client base.''

Charity bins can be found at many local shopping centres, and are often overflowing with items that have either been dumped as rubbish or are left as donations.

The charity bins at Cooleman Court in Weston Creek are full to the brim with donated goods, and items are strewn around them as well.

Due to heavy rain in Canberra this week, at least 80 per cent of the items there will have to be discarded.

''It happens a lot around Christmas and it happens a lot after every school holidays, particularly the summer holidays, where people have clean-outs to get ready for the next period in their life and they dump it at the bins,'' Ms Luchessi said.

As an alternative, Ms Luchessi suggests making donations at Smith Family stores or other charity shop fronts when the collection bins become too full.

''We're really happy to accept any clothing, goods and manchester at our Smith Family premises and I feel sure that other charities would be as happy to have someone take it to their premises as well,'' she said.

''We're really grateful for any support the Canberra community gives us and we know that people want to give us a lot of their support, their time, their energy, their dollars.

''However, when people put things like the back of a car and an old lampshade that nobody can use, we have to pay someone to take it to the tip,'' she said.

Truck drivers visit charity bins around Canberra daily and most bins are emptied at least twice a week.

Yet the bins at Cooleman Court and other destinations are still overflowing with items that should not be there.

''We've had a cement mixer, electric saws that are broken, heaps of old cassette tapes,'' Ms Luchessi said.

''We do understand why people feel that they need to leave it somewhere, the problem is that it does cost us money. It's the cost of us helping a family, so that's the issue.

''We are really grateful to all the people who want to give, so we certainly don't want the message to be that we're upset and annoyed that people are trying to give us things.

''But what they probably don't realise is how much it costs us and that there's people missing out because we then have to spend that money.''

All charity bins in the ACT are clearly marked with what items are suitable for donation.

Illegal dumping at charity bins can incur a $200 fine and areas are patrolled by local city rangers.

The Smith Family is on the corner of Launceston and Easty Streets in Woden.

The charity is hosting a Toy and Book Appeal in the lead up to Christmas. For more information visit the website at www.thesmithfamily.com.au