Marion Council to vote on draft rules to fine supermarkets or shoppers over dumped trolleys
Marion Council will consider fining supermarkets for trolleys found dumped in its district — or even shoppers who take them outside shopping centres.
West & Beaches
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Supermarkets would be penalised for dumped trolleys, under Marion’s plan to become the first SA council to introduce a by-law aimed at cracking down on abandoned trolleys.
Elected members will vote at a meeting on Tuesday night whether to endorse a draft by-law designed to ensure trolleys stay within shopping centres.
The council collects up to 25 dumped trolleys each week, with most found near Westfield Marion.
Council staff have prepared two draft by-laws for elected members to choose from.
Both include retailers using a trolley containment system — such as wheel locks or coin deposits — and erecting signs at the exits warning people not to take trolleys any further.
It would also give the council the power to fine retailers $187.50 if they failed to collect an abandoned trolley within 48 hours.
However, one option also includes fining shoppers caught taking the carts outside shopping centres. Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said he was in favour of cracking down on retailers but not on individuals.
“We all recognise that shoppers are the source of the problem but is it a good use of council inspector resources to chase home people with trolleys?” Mr Hanna said.
“The only effective solution for abandoned trolleys must involve roping in the retailers.
“If this by-law is supported by council and then the parliamentary committee, it will be effective in cleaning up our streets.”
Some interstate councils have created similar by-laws and the Australian Capital Territory has territory-wide legislation to try and prevent trolleys from being abandoned.
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Coles and Woolworths both said they would comply with any by-law introduced.
“We understand abandoned trolleys can be a nuisance and that’s why we invest millions in collection services to help mitigate their impact in the community,” a Woolworths spokeswoman said.
“We work closely with dedicated collection contractors who respond quickly to reports of abandoned trolleys to return them to our stores within 24 hours.
“They also conduct regular sweeps for abandoned trolleys in the streets surrounding our stores.”
A Coles spokeswoman said they would work with the council to minimise the impact of abandoned trolleys.
If approved at the meeting, the council plans to undertake community consultation on the draft by-law in December and then send it to state parliament for approval early next year.
If this progresses as planned, a by-law could be in effect from October 2020.
