SENIOR Ranger Glenn Tomlinson has announced a blitz on abandoned shopping trolleys across Canberra with a trolley collection day in Belconnen and surrounding suburbs starting on Thursday October 29.

“City Rangers will be working to improve the amenity and safety of the area by removing abandoned trolleys,” Glenn said.

“City Rangers impounded approximately 315 trolleys in the 2014/15 financial year and we are again reminding local retailers to be aware of the laws around the removal of trolleys from shopping centre precincts.

“Before each collection day, retailers in the areas are given two days’ warning to advise them trolleys located outside shopping precinct areas in parks, playing fields, waterways and other open spaces will be impounded.

“Leaving trolleys on the streets has a direct cost to retailers as there is a fee of $123 to retrieve an impounded trolley.

“On top of regular collection days like this, City Rangers also place removal notice stickers on abandoned trolleys reported by members of the public or identified during general patrols.

“Once a removal sticker is issued the retailer is contacted to pick up the trolley. If it is not removed within 24 hours it is impounded. In cases where a trolley is left in a hazardous location, such as on a road, it is impounded immediately.

“Abandoned shopping trolleys can create safety hazards as well as being an eyesore and polluting our natural environment. It is important retailers have adequate collection services in place to help reduce the number of trolleys abandoned in the ACT.

“Members of the public should take responsibility for returning trolleys to designated areas after use. Fines of $60 can apply under the Litter Act 2014 for taking, using or leaving a shopping trolley outside a shopping centre precinct.

“Further trolley collection days are planned for 12 November, 3 December and 17 December 2015 for later in the year.”

Members of the community are reminded that they can report abandoned trolleys to Access Canberra on 13 22 81 or via the Fix My Street portal at act.gov.au/fixmystreet

[Photo: “CityNews” set out to Belconnen to photograph the trolleys but tripped over this one across the road from the Legislative Assembly on exiting our offices]