Shopping trolleys

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Abandoned shopping trolleys have long been a problem for the City of Swan community.

Not only are they unsightly, but they also pose safety and environmental risks.

The City has listened to the community and acted on the management of shopping trolleys – a problem which affects local governments across WA.

After a trial of a trolley collection system, the City made a local law in 2023 which allows the collections to continue while minimising the cost to ratepayers.

The overall aim is to encourage retailers to implement measures that will reduce the presence of abandoned trolleys in the community.

The Snap Send Solve app on a mobile phone

Have you seen a lost shopping trolley?

Shopping trolleys belong at the shops. You can help them find their way home by reporting them through the Snap Send Solve app.

If the issue is urgent or creating an immediate safety hazard, call the City of Swan on (08) 9267 9267.

Report it via the app

2020

Council resolves to run proactive trolley collection trial around the Midland area

2021

Council expands trial and advertises proposed local law designed to reduce abandoned trolleys

2023

Council makes City of Swan Consolidated Amendment Local Law (No.2) 2023

August 2024

City engages with retailers about local law and what it means to them

November 2024

City to implement local law and start collecting trolleys

Abandoned shopping trolleys can reduce the visual appeal of public places, obstruct roads and footpaths, and even end up in local waterways. Like many local governments across WA, they are a frequent source of frustration for the Swan community.

The City has decided to act on this issue. Ultimately, it is hoped this approach will lead to retailers taking more responsibility for their property and being more proactive about keeping their shopping trolleys at the shops.

In 2020, City of Swan Council voted to run a trial of proactive trolley collections around the Midland area, which led to an average of 77 trolleys being collected every week. The estimated cost of running that service was $45,000 a year. Therefore, Council decided to go through the process of making a local law that would allow it to expand that service across the City, while minimising the cost to ratepayers. That local law came into effect in October 2023.

The City’s Consolidated Amendment Local Law (No.2) 2023 came into effect in October 2023. The local law allows the City to impound abandoned shopping trolleys. It also allows the City to charge a fee for the collection of the trolleys and dispose of them if they are not collected.

Simply put, it allows the City to remove abandoned shopping trolleys from public places, while minimising the cost of that service to ratepayers

The fee aims to cover the City's costs for collecting and storing trolleys, while also encouraging retailers to improve their management of trolleys.

The City can collect trolleys from all public areas within its boundaries but will also be focusing on previously identified hotspots.

The local law can be read in full here.

Read the law

Yes, other local governments in Perth have acted on the issue of abandoned shopping trolleys in various ways with various levels of success. These include the City of Bayswater, City of Canning and City of Cockburn.

You can report abandoned shopping trolleys through the Snap Send Solve app. If the issue is urgent or creating an immediate safety hazard, call the City of Swan on (08) 9267 9267.

Here is a simplified overview of how this trolley collection process will work. There is more detailed information in the FAQs on this webpage.

The City will notify retailers in writing, advising them of the number of trolleys the City has impounded, payment details and the timeframe for them to collect the trolleys.

Once a retailer has made the required payment, their nominated representative can show the payment receipt to collect the trolleys at the time, day and location specified in the impoundment notification.

An online payment link will be provided within the impoundment notification.

Trolleys must be collected within one month of the date of notification.

If the trolleys are not collected within one month, the City has the right to dispose of them. The collection fee still stands after the disposal.

It is an offence for a retailer to fail to clearly mark its trading name or name on any shopping trolley it makes available for the use of customers. In the absence of proof to the contrary, the retailer whose name appears on the trolley will be deemed to be the lawful owner of the trolley for the purposes of this local law.

The impounded notification will go to the retailer who is responsible for payment.

Trolleys should not be left in a public place. Therefore, any abandoned trolley may be picked up at any time.

As the owner of the shopping trolley, it is your responsibility to make sure it remains on the premises.

The City will undertake a comprehensive communications campaign outlining these changes.

The City encourages retailers to consider improvement to their trolley management. However, if there are no improvements, the City reserves the right to take enforcement action.

There are various trolley management strategies that have been successful for retailers. These include coin-operated systems, electronic wheel locks and GPS/smart tracking solutions. Other strategies include increased staff monitoring, encouraging customers to report abandoned trolleys and physical barriers such as bollards.

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