Liverpool City Council is working on a plan to provide residents with two-wheeled shopping trolleys in a move it hopes will drastically reduce the dumping of supermarket-owned trolleys across the City.
The council has decided to investigate and develop a trial program to supply up to 500 personal two-wheeler shopping trolleys (nicknamed “Granny 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 – said that by providing trolleys – probably at a nominal cost to residents – it was hoped they 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 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 common sense 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.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said the idea was a positive and innovative solution to a huge problem statewide and called on other Councils to consider following suit.
“All Councils are left with a trolley mess and if personal trolleys for residents cuts the number of dumped trolleys, then everyone wins.
“It’s a classic circular economy solution to a massive environmental problem,” 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 in May and this time will be levying fines of up to $1,320.00 a trolley.
Media Contact:
Alan Gale communications@liverpool.nsw.gov.au 0492 087 403
Background
At its April 23rd Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to explore providing trolleys and to also see if the current use of the Environmental Levy could be expanded to cover more innovative solutions to environmental problems.
It has not yet decided to implement the program, which is subject to a report to the May 2025 Governance Committee meeting on the cost-benefit analysis of implementing the proposal, including charging a suitable one-off fee for each trolley.
In notes to support the motion, Cr Harle said the Environmental Levy has been in place for approximately 25 years and has played an important role in funding bush regeneration and environmental restoration works within the Liverpool Local Government Area. As a restricted fund, the Levy must be used solely for the purposes for which it is collected, with a historical focus on bushland management, but ways to expand this should be found.
The council decided to:
- Undertake a comprehensive review of Council’s Environmental Levy to expand its uses for the greater benefit of the environment.
- Investigate providing a suitable two-wheel shopping trollies for residents such as pensioners and those who have no easy economical means of taking their shopping home.
- Provide a report to the May 2025 Governance Committee meeting on the cost-benefit analysis of implementing this proposal, including charging a suitable one-off fee for each trolley.
- Utilise funds available from the Environmental Levy to implement the scheme, subject to any required amendments to the levy charter.
- Investigate alternate funding sources such as the State Government and relevant grant programs from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Write to local State Members of Parliament seeking support and potential for subsidising a similar scheme for Councils across New South Wales.
- Should this be enacted that twelve months after the program we reassess to make sure that we have achieved the goals that we set out to do.
Trolleys awaiting collection – or disposal – at the Liverpool City Council Depot
