Supermarkets in Cardiff are facing tougher penalties as the local council introduces a £75 fine for every one abandoned throughout the city.
Councillors are attempting to rid Cardiff of hundreds of abandoned trolleys, some of which can be found miles from their original supermarket. The number has increased since the 5p charge for carrier bags was introduced last October.
The Welsh Retail Consortium has said the policy will penalise supermarkets under the Clean Neighbourhood and Environmental Act 2005 to help prevent a ÔÇÿrundown feelingÔÇÖ to an area.
Cardiff Executive Member for the Environment, Coun Ashley Govier, said that abandoned trolleys are not only a litter nuisance, but they have also been damaging cars and, in some cases, even injuring children.
They also pose a risk to wildlife, and attract further littering and fly tipping in areas, as well as encouraging anti-social behaviour.
However, Mark Ross, director of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said: ÔÇ£if you say this is the supermarketsÔÇÖ fault ÔÇô you are blaming the victim. It’s like saying shops cause shoplifting by having shelves of goods.ÔÇØ
ÔÇ£A trolley can cost a retailer ┬ú150 to buy – they don’t want them stolen. They often have deposit schemes or grids at car park exits to make it less likely they will be stolen. It is the people who steal trolleys and dump them who are to blame.ÔÇØ
It has not yet been revealed how supermarkets might tackle the problem.
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