Dollar Tree has long been known for its affordable items, although the store has caused some customer upset in recent months as it raised prices and introduced new and more expensive item tiers.

Now, however, employees are calling out a problem with the store that has nothing to do with its higher price tags. The problem relates to a policy, which one worker said left her “absolutely disgusted by the end of my shift.”

Dollar Tree staff are upset over the company’s policy on unsold items.

Dollar Tree staff member “disgusted” by this store rule

Here’s the policy that’s causing the anger. Shutterstock The Dollar Tree rule that upset store associates relates to the company’s policy on unsold items. 

One associate took to the r/DollarTree subreddit to share an upsetting story about what happened on her shift:

What a waste. I just can’t throw stuff away that someone could use. This is a bunch of kids’ clothes. I’m gonna just leave it out of the dumpster. Hopefully someone finds it.

The commenter posted this remark along with a picture of a white garbage bag stuffed with clothing for children that was unused because it had never been sold. Instead of giving it away, she’d been told to throw it away. 

Related: Dollar Tree’s new pricing strategy sparks customer fury

She wasn’t the only one who had this experience. Other employees weighed in, with one of them specifically mentioning being left “disgusted.” 

Another said they had been told to throw away four full carts of party items, including plastic plates.

Does Dollar Tree have a policy about unsold items?

According to reports online, Dollar Tree has a policy that items that are to be taken off the shelves are priced at $0.01. Items that carry this price tag must be destroyed. They cannot be sold to customers, even if customers want them.

There have been numerous reports online about customers affected by the penny policy. For example, one Facebook user, who is part of a public Dollar Tree craft group, shared a negative experience with this issue, stating:

Why is it that Dollar Tree has items in the store that are priced at $0.01 and then you bring it to the register and they say they can’t sell it for a penny. Not only that, they take it from you and put it in a bin for their damaged items when they’re not damaged!

Many Dollar Tree workers on Reddit confirmed that they are told to pull these items rather than selling them to customers – in some cases, for safety reasons, as items that are past the expiration date are also marked down to a penny.

Retail waste is a serious problem in the United States

While Dollar Tree’s policies were the subject of this particular complaint, this store is far from the only one that is throwing away items that could be useful.

House Beautiful reported several years ago that popular home goods stores throw away a ton of items, including many things that are good as new. And, while some people suggest dumpster diving to get these items, that’s illegal in some parts of the country, so it is not a practice that people should generally implement.

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 More Retail: Green America has also highlighted the scope of the problem, indicating that Americans generate as much as 17 million tons of textile waste, even after recycling 2.5 million tons of clothing each year. Of this waste, 11 million tons end up in landfills.

Unfortunately, this is not a problem likely to be solved anytime soon, although customers concerned about waste may want to talk to their favorite store about revising its policies. 

Staff members who are tired of throwing things out would appreciate the support, and pressure from both customers and workers could potentially lead stores to make a change.

Related: Dollar Tree offers convenient new perk customers can’t afford