Last month, Brampton decided to fine stores $100 for every shopping cart found abandoned in the city.<\/p>\n
Now, Brampton will consider requiring stores to install locking devices on their carts so they cannot be pushed beyond retail properties.<\/p>\n
A report that will go to a committee this week looks at the feasibility of the locking program to help address the problem of city workers having to retrieve carts from city streets, parks, and ravines, where they are often dumped after being removed from the store area.<\/p>\n
The city recovers about 400 carts per year.<\/p>\n
According to the report, a common form of shopping cart containment technology involves wheel-locking mechanisms installed on carts.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo prevent carts from being abandoned in surrounding areas, the wheel locks activate when a cart crosses a predefined boundary around a retail property,\u201d the report reads. \u201cIn addition to wheel-locking technology, other common cart inventory management practices include coin-deposit systems, routine staff collection of carts from parking areas, and contracts with third-party cart retrieval services.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the report points out that locking technology is most effective when a retailer controls the entire site and parking area. In many cases, the site is shared or controlled by a property owner, which would limit a store\u2019s ability to install a perimeter-based containment system.<\/p>\n
The report recommends not mandating the locking devices, but the final decision will be left in the hands of city councillors.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the launch of the $100 recovery fine program will see retailers charged for every cart found abandoned and returned.<\/p>\n
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