A couple of generations ago, two wheel granny trolleys were a common sight in suburbs across the Sydney metropolitan area.
Now a local council thinks they could be part of the solution to a modern scourge: the dumping of supermarket trolleys.
Liverpool City Council says it’s working on a pilot plan to provide residents with two-wheeled shopping trolleys in a move it hopes will drastically reduce the dumping of supermarket owned trolleys.
The council has decided to investigate and develop a trial program to supply up to 500 personal two-wheeler shopping trolleys to eligible residents at a subsidised rate, with a focus on pensioners and individuals without access to private transport.
Deputy mayor Peter Harle, a long-time campaigner against dumped trolleys, says that by providing trolleys – probably at a nominal cost – residents would take their own trolleys to and from supermarkets.
“While the law places responsibility for trolleys fair and square at the supermarkets, Council is left with the problem and so Council has to come up with a solution,” he said.
“There is potential for funding under the Environmental Levy which we want to expand to allow innovative and preventative environmental programs, such as initiatives to reduce urban waterways or promote behaviour change.
“In some ways it’s an old-fashioned solution to a modern problem. Years ago, every home had its own shopping trolley and by going “back to the future” we can probably find a commonsense solution to a massive problem.’’
Councillor Harle also encouraged shoppers to take advantage of free home deliveries.
“Supermarkets offer a range of minimum-spend free delivery options, and this is a very simple way to reduce trolley usage and increase shopping convenience,” he said.
In the last two months, Liverpool City Council has impounded nearly 1,200 trolleys, most of which have been collected by their owners, who were charged $46.30 a trolley.
Council is planning another trolley blitz next month and this time will be levying fines of up to $1,320 a trolley.
