I did ask last night and got told she put 'several' broken poles in the rubbish bags they took down the tip. The tent they chucked out was one that got trashed by high winds at a bike rally 3 years ago. Think I had 2 poles that did not shatter (that's what you get camping in January). Think I was only keeping it to turn into a bike cover. Still, she is giving me the money for the new mast so apart from delaying me there is no harm done.