Abandoned Shopping Trolleys
Ashfield Council to crack down on abandoned shopping trolleys
On Monday 25 May 2009, Ashfield Council will kick off a six-week public education campaign aimed at reducing the number of abandoned shopping trolleys polluting the streets of Ashfield.
Mayor of Ashfield, Councillor Ted Cassidy PSM, said Council had been working with Ashfield Mall's Centre Management and major retailers to develop a strategy to prevent people taking shopping trolleys off retail premises and abandoning them in the street.
"Ashfield Council is responding to ongoing community demand to rid our streets of abandoned shopping trolleys," he said.
"As well as being an eyesore, abandoned trolleys are a hazard to pedestrians and traffic. It is illegal to abandon a shopping trolley in a public place and offenders can be issued with a $110 on the spot fine," he said.
"Over the next six weeks, Council's Community Enforcement Officers will be handing out information notices to people who are doing the wrong thing by taking trolleys off the retail premises and using them to transport their shopping," said Councillor Cassidy.
At the conclusion of the public education campaign, Council staff will begin impounding abandoned trolleys at a local depot.
"This strategy will supplement the current Trolley Tracker service employed by our retailers and may encourage major retailers to be more proactive about preventing trolleys being taken off the premises, through schemes such as coin-operated trolleys.
"After the six week campaign period, Council will also crack down on people found abandoning trolleys and our Community Enforcement Officers will be issuing on-the-spot fines," he said.
"We urge people to carry their shopping in a re-useable bag, or purchase a portable, personal trolley from a local retailer."
For information about where to buy personal trolleys or Council's Abandoned Shopping trolley campaign please contact Council on 9716 1800.
Where to buy a personal trolley:
Try:
-
Franklins, Ashfield Mall
-
Teks, Liverpool Road, Ashfield
- The Reject Shop, Ashfield Mall
View Council's 
Information Flyer on Abandoned Shopping Trolleys (including Chinese summary translation)