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Ipswich City Council has strict laws regarding shopping trolleys to reduce the number of trolleys that are removed from shopping centres.

Abandoned shopping trolleys reduce the amenity of the local area, can cause safety hazards on footpaths and roadways and damage the environment especially if they end up in water ways.

Making a complaint

If you have any concerns in relation to a retailers containment system or you have witnessed a person leaving a retail premises with a shopping trolley, please contact Council:

Containment Systems

Ipswich City Council local laws require supermarkets and retailers to install a shopping trolley wheel lock containment system in an effort to clean up local parks, creeks and rivers.

Any retailer with over 20 shopping trolleys is required to have a containment system.

Retailers must ensure that all shopping trolleys are affixed with identification which includes:

  • Name of the retailer
  • Contact details, including a telephone number to report shopping trolleys found or abandoned outside of the retailer's premises.

The information must be:

  • Legible
  • Conspicuously displayed
  • Permanently affixed/not easily removed.

Frequently asked questions by retailers

Are all retailers required to install the shopping trolley wheel lock containment system?

No, Retailers and supermarkets with less than 20 trolleys are not required to install the shopping trolley containment system. However if the retailer/supermarket receive two or more infringement notices for their trolleys being found away from their store within a 12 month period they will be required to install the system.

Why does council require shopping trolleys to have a containment system?

  • The containment system required by Ipswich City Council will ensure that shopping trolleys stay where they belong - within the premises.
  • Council receives numerous complaints about abandoned trolleys which in turn end up in waterways causing build up in debris and disturbing water flow or becoming hazardous objects blocking footpaths/roads and detracting from the amenity and enjoyment of council’s parks.

What are the alternatives to the wheel locking system?

At present there are no other prescribed containment systems. The wheel locking mechanism automatically locks on the trolleys wheels if taken outside the shopping precinct and can only be unlocked by the retailer, ensuring the trolleys remains where it belongs.

What are the benefits to the retailer?

  • Save money in the long run not having to replace wayward trolleys
  • Contributing to the amenity of the community and protection of the local environment
  • Avoid paying impound fees and other associated fines

What are the benefits for the community?

There have been reports of people using shopping trolleys for washing baskets, barbeque grills and mobile storage units in the past but most stray trolleys end up in creeks, rivers or littering parks and streets. The community will benefit with improved amenity of our neighbourhoods.

Responsibilities for the Public

It is illegal for a person to remove a shopping trolley from a retail premises without the consent (permission) of the owner of the trolley.

On-the-spot fines of more than $260 can be issued to a person who takes or leaves a shopping trolley outside of the retail premises.

Further information

For further detail refer to Local Law No. 8 (Nuisances and Community Health and Safety) 2013