Wayward trolleys impounded in blitz

Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Penrith City Council has joined other Councils from across Western Sydney to rid the suburbs of unsightly abandoned shopping trolleys.

Penrith City Council, Liverpool City Council, Fairfield City Council and Cumberland City Council rounded up 550 shopping trolleys yesterday in a concerted effort to remove trolleys.

The councils are calling for the State Government to amend the Impounding Act 1993 to allow councils to fine retailers for abandoned shopping trolleys.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said retailers need to be accountable for their trolleys.

“Our local communities are fed up with trolleys being dumped in their streets, parks and waterways,” Cr Fowler said.

“There is a cost to retailers to replace diminishing stocks of trolleys and there is a cost to Councils as we keep the amenity of the suburbs. Both of those costs could be significantly reduced with a greater emphasis by retailers in restricting the movement of wayward shopping trolleys.

“Right now there is very little in the way of discouraging retailers from allowing their trolleys to be abandoned and as a result of that we are having to re-direct resources to fix the problem,” Cr Fowler said.

Photo caption: Penrith City Council General Manager Warwick Winn, PCC Director – Development and Regulatory Services Wayne Mitchell, Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM and Senior Ranger Steven Purvis with the some of the 100 trolleys Council collected in the blitz.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Wednesday, 30 October 2019.