Document Actions

Melville Rolls Out Abandoned Shopping Trolley Initiative

Published Date: 23 August 2007, 01:46 PM

The City of Melville is joining forces with Coles and Woolworths to stop people from removing shopping trolleys and abandoning them outside Garden City Shopping Centre.

Through posters being placed around the supermarkets and Council Rangers educating shoppers around the centre, residents are being encouraged to “Do the right thing” and leave trolleys at shopping centres in the allocated bays.

Mayor Katherine Jackson strongly supports the initiative, saying it is important that the Council educates people and imposes fines to discourage them from dumping trolleys and creating more work for the Rangers. “Many people are unaware that abandoning shopping trolleys outside shopping centres is considered as littering and offenders can be fined up to $200,” she said. “Abandoned shopping trolleys create unsightly and unnecessary litter and work within the community. Taking a pro-active approach and making people aware of the penalties is the best way to deter them.” 

Supported by Keep Australia Beautiful and the Western Australian Local Government Association, the City of Melville, Coles and Woolworths aim to decrease the number of trolleys impounded by the City of Melville.

Coles State Compliance Manager John Clune said although the vast majority of people did the right thing and returned their trolleys after use, there was a small minority who continued to remove them from the premises creating a problem for the broader community. “We do our best to alleviate the problem by employing specialist trolley collectors who conduct regular sweeps to collect trolleys,” he said. “We’re also very pleased to be part of this terrific initiative to inform the broader community of the need to discourage trolley dumping.”

Coles recently increased the hours of the trolley collectors at Garden City Shopping Centre with very positive results, helping decrease the number Coles trolleys impounded by the City of Melville.

Residents can report abandoned trolleys to Coles on 1800 061 562 or Woolworths on 9316 1101.  For more information about the City of Melville “Do the right thing” promotion, contact Neighbourhood Amenity Coordinator Peter Carrie on 9634 0647.

supermarket trolleys

Posted by Heather Clarke at 03 September 2007, 02:16 PM
In my opinion, the best encouragement for people to return a trolley to the correct spot is to ask the supermarkets to change to coin operated trolleys. In a very short space of time, this approach has solved the problem in Europe. Shoppers will also be supportive since trolleys will be kept in better condition and might actually drive straight, for the low cost of $2. Drivers will be satisified since it will solve the problem of loose trolleys being blown around the car park causing damage and obstructions. The supermarket gains since they don't loose trolleys and they save money since they will need fewer trolley boys/girls. Even if some lazy shoppers decide its worth $2 to avoid a short walk across the car park, you find the next shopper, or their kids, will be only to happy to gain $2 when they park it.
In fact - I can't believe the system hasn't been installed here in Australia already. I've seen it in one supermarket in Perth about 6 months ago and I was sure it would catch on everywhere by now.
Heather

Trolleys belonging to Woolworths/Coles/Kmart/Target

Posted by Kay Krestensen at 27 April 2010, 01:57 PM
I live in Midland W.A. and report trolleys in our streets left abandoned almost weekly. Some of these trolleys are left outside the same residents each week and obviously this is who brings them home. The down side is no one ever collects them even when they are reported. They just grow each week in numbers. John Street, Margaret Street,Sayer Street and Great Northern Highway are the most littered with these trolleys. Even when they are reported they never get collected. Why is it that these big department stores are allowed to get away with this conduct no one knows. However the residents of Midland have had enough of this blatant disregard of our rights by these stores. Melville is doing something about the problem why not Midland.

shopping trolleys

Posted by Guy Wieland at 03 September 2007, 02:16 PM
Its great to see the City of Melville tackle the problem of discarded shopping trolleys, can I add a suggestion that the trolleys themselves can also carry the information message of no dumping or discarding trolleys outside the shopping area, and also the fines involved, the messages could also be varied, such as a photo backdrop showing the unsightlyness of discarded trolleys etc.

Thanks for your time

Guy Wieland

shopping trolleys

Posted by lorelie tacoma at 04 September 2007, 07:55 AM
Trolley dumping should be considered stealing, not just littering, and more substantial fines should be imposed. Since they are they property of the supermarket, they are only "on loan" to shoppers.
I agree a $2 deposit would be helpful in getting trolleys returned.

ABC NEMS

Posted by JI at 31 December 2007, 07:03 AM
GOOD!

ABANDONED SHOPPING TROLLEYS

Posted by Dorothy Taylor at 31 December 2007, 07:03 AM
I went to the new Myaree Spotlight recently and they charge you $1 to use a trolley which on return to collection point you get back. This means there are no 'loose' trolleys in the carpark, because someone couldn't be bothered to walk 2ft, hitting cars and none getting used for vandalism and dumping either. I think all supermarkets would find it money well spent - even $2 to make it worthwhile getting it back. I heard some shoppers say they now remember to bring their shopping bags and pull-alongs. So it was also promoting non-use of plastic bags.

shopping trolly dumping

Posted by steven Wallace at 04 February 2008, 10:20 AM
At the end of the Day Coles Melville in particular, from my experience over many years, does not careless about this vast community problem & displays total disrespect & arrogance towards this community in not being proactive in solving the problem.

I have rung Coles Melville on many occasions over the years advising about various trolleys laying about & in each call they have totally ignored this advice & not collected the trolleys.

The only positive way to ensure the removal of these trollies has been to ring the city of Melville everytime

One must ask, why should the rate payers pay for this free pick up by rate payers when its clearly a problem that Coles has come about from the Coles Melville business not bearing the financial burden the problem causes for the oommunity.

I suggest as is suggested by others that we move to instate a law requiring all trollies to have a $1/$2 deposit return asap & also ensure the likes of Coles Melville are fined severly by council for each trolly dummped & recoved by council.

This is the only way large offensive multinationals listen is when they find it is no longer more economically viable to leave the problem that become proactive to fix it.

On closing I would like to express my gratitude for East Fremantle IGA in installing a $1 return system recently. Well done & they have taken the moral high ground here working with the community instead of causing a problem & leaving it for rate payers to fix up.

S.wallace