Liverpool City Council in Australia is tackling the persistent problem of abandoned shopping trolleys with a novel approach: subsidizing personal trolleys for residents. The council aims to distribute up to 500 subsidized trolleys, potentially selling them for as little as $10 each, using funds from the environment levy.
This initiative represents a shift from punitive measures to a more incentivized approach. The council acknowledges previous attempts to address the issue through fines and penalties have been less effective. Other councils, such as Canterbury-Bankstown, are utilizing AI technology and cameras to identify and map dumped trolleys, highlighting a variety of strategies being employed across the region.
The problem of abandoned shopping trolleys is significant in New South Wales. Data from Snap Send Solve indicates that complaints about abandoned trolleys are substantial, ranking second only to parking complaints in 2023, with 37,764 reported incidents.
The council notes that discarded trolleys create environmental problems, including blockages in drainage systems and attracting additional litter and illegal dumping.