Don't accept people's discards (6)

I believe the answer is:

refuse

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'don't' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for refuse that I've seen before include "Decline waste material" , "'Deny, turn down (6)'" , "Decline to accept - rubbish" , "Decline to jump; rubbish" , "Turn down - rubbish" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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