Store manager Kate O’Brien said staff, who are all volunteers, are sick of coming in on Monday morning to find soiled mattresses, broken fridges and other rubbish dumped among the donated goods.

“It’s quite depressing,” Mrs O’Brien said.

“You come in here and think, ‘why do I bother?’ You just feel like turning around and going home.

“It’s very disheartening.”

The mattresses alone cost the charity $30 each to dispose of and are often in “an absolutely despicable state”.

“I feel really bad for the blokes that have to come here and work in filth,” Mrs O’Brien said.

Heavy items like lounges can also make for an expensive load at Cootamundra tip.

The charity forked out $114 two weeks ago, $170 last week, and is expecting another charge over $100 this week purely to take care of weekend waste.

Mrs O’Brien said in the past, Cootamundra Shire Council would waive the fees but the costs became too much.

To add to the frustration, people often choose to dump white goods at the store when they can be disposed of for free at the tip.

“Why dump them with us if it doesn’t cost you anything anyway?” Mrs O’Brien said.

The store has installed CCTV cameras to catch dumpers but the visible presence of the cameras has not seemed to deter offenders.

Mrs O’Brien believes behaviour will not change unless fines are a credible threat.

Staff are working with Cootamundra Shire Council in an effort to identify and fine offenders.

Compliance officer Glen McAtear confirmed dumping rubbish on private or public land without authorisation is illegal.

The offence is “transport waste to unlawful waste facility”, not littering, and as such carries a much heavier fine.

Council rangers can fine individuals up to $2000 and corporations up to $4000 on the spot under the NSW Environmental Protection Act.

“Council will be working closely with the Salvation Army to put an end to this issue,” Mr McAtear said.