Hunt on for abandoned trolleys in Canberra - The Canberra Times

A discarded shopping trolley lies in a storm water canal in Curtin. File photo: Lannon Harley

The wayward suburban shopping trolley could soon be a thing of the past in Canberra as retailers improve compliance with regulation.

More than 40 Canberra suburbs are set to be targeted in the search for abandoned trolleys as part of an end-of-year crackdown. Collection fees of $112.50 are charged to retailers who don’t retrieve trolleys from parkland, open spaces, waterways or on playing fields.

City Services compliance manager Michael Brice said 10 shopping trolley collections would be conducted in the lead up to Christmas.

The collections will focus on Canberra's north, south and the city centre.

"Prior to each collection day, retailers are given two days warning to advise them that trolleys located outside shopping precinct areas in parkland, open spaces, waterways or on playing fields will be impounded,’’ Mr Brice said.

"The most recent trolley collection day, undertaken on October 10, saw only 17 trolleys impounded across the Weston and Curtin areas, which appears to indicate that retailers are becoming more active in collecting their trolleys from Canberra's open space areas.’’

Abandoned trolleys are marked with a removal sticker and retailers are contacted to pick up the trolley within 24 hours.

If the trolley is not collected, it becomes impounded.

‘‘The only exception to this is when a trolley is left in a potentially hazardous location, such as on a road, when it is impounded immediately,’’ Mr Brice said.

He called on members of the public to be proactive in returning their trolleys to retail outlets.

"Not only do shopping trolleys have the potential to create safety hazards, but they are an eyesore and major contributor to the pollution of our natural environment, so it is important that all retailers have adequate collection services in place to help reduce the number of trolleys littering the ACT,’’ he said.

Wayward shopping trolleys will remain the targets of ACT rangers after Christmas and further collection days are scheduled to take place in early 2014.

Members of the public can report abandoned trolleys to Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.