A man’s attempt to offload a broken pool table on an Ascot Vale St Vincents de Paul Society Store has seen him land fines, charges and costs totalling $3,788.

CCTV caught the moment just before Christmas 2022 when the man and his compatriot stopped a Mitsubishi ute outside the Maribyrnong Rd shop, manhandle a broken pool table off the flat bed and leave it propped outside the Vinnies store.

The same man was also caught on CCTV dropping off broken toys and assorted small items of furniture to the same shop.

In Melbourne Magistrates Court on 14 June 2024, he was found guilty without conviction, ordered to pay $1,100 for each offence, $568 to St Vincents and legal costs of $1,000.

“EPA has become involved in this because the offender deposited waste greater than 50 litres but less than 1000 litres, contrary to the Act,” said EPA Compliance Programs Manager, Zac Dornom.

“Charity shops need support and using them as a dumping ground to get rid of your old trash is just shifting the cost away from yourself and on to someone else.

Mr Dornom said everyone should be acting to protect the environment and not try to unload that responsibility on others.

“Disposing of waste does carry a cost, so try not to create the waste in the first place and recycle it where you can but if it must be disposed of, it has to be done legally.”

Mr Dornom said everyone has a responsibility to protect the environment and dumping broken goods at charity shops failed to do that.