Melton op shop used as rubbish tip

Judi Mus and Peter Swann with the mess left outside the op shop. Picture: Kristian Scott

Kitchen scraps, dirty nappies, leftover meat and stained furniture are just some of the things found dumped on the nature strip in front of a Melton op shop.

Manager Peter Swann is fed up after cleaning up the mess almost daily for the past month.

Mr Swann said while illegal dumping has been a longtime problem for the Melton Uniting Church Op Shop, the situation has worsened recently.

“People seem to be doing a clear-out of their homes and dumping it on our nature strip,” Mr Swann said.

“Dumping it is illegal.”

Signs on the fence at the front of the store haven’t deterred the offenders, with the rubbish attracting more dumpers, Mr Swann said.

He believes some people see the dumped rubbish and figure “I might as well” and add to the pile.

Donations to the charity are only accepted from its donation bins, or if people bring them into the shop.

Melton council compliance manager Ian Stewart urged the op shop to shift its bins.

“The removal of existing charity bins was undertaken at previous Melton op shops, which … resulted in better quality donations.”