Abandoned Shopping Carts in Parkland

Brampton is seeing more shopping carts left behind in parks, trails, stormwater ponds and other public spaces. These carts create safety hazards, harm local ecosystem, and take time and City resources to remove.

To address this growing issue, City Council introduced a $100 user fee for every abandoned shopping cart retrieved by City staff.

Why Abandoned Carts are a Problem?

Abandoned shopping carts can cause:

Safety hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, and park visitors
Accessibility barriers on sidewalks, entrances, and trails
Pollution and risks to wildlife in creeks, valleys, and stormwater ponds

What is the Process?

Cart Identified on City Property

The cart is retrieved by City staff and returned to retailer

An invoice for the retrieval of cart(s) is issued

Payment submitted by the retailer

Cart Management Measures Retailers May Implement

To manage shopping carts effectively, retailers can use the following measures to keep them organized, reduce losses, and maintain safe parking areas:

Wheel locks stop carts from leaving the store, which helps reduce lost or damaged carts.
Coin-deposit systems encourage customers to return carts, making more carts available for everyone.
Regular cart collection by staff or a service keeps parking areas safe and organized.
Designated return areas provide easy drop-off points, ensuring carts end up where they belong.
Signs and reminders encourage customers to return carts, resulting in fewer stray carts.

Related Resources

Report an Abandoned Cart

If you find a shopping cart on City property, please contact 311.

Learn More