Brampton officials are preparing to crack down on the growing problem of abandoned shopping carts cluttering creeks, valleys, and green spaces across the city.
The issue was raised at council on September 24 by Wards 1 and 5 Councillor Rowena Santos, who said residents have become increasingly frustrated. “This is a new thing that many residents I represent are bringing up and that I’ve observed myself. We’re finding more and more grocery carts abandoned in our creeks, in our valleys, and green spaces,” Santos told council.
According to Community Services Commissioner Bill Boyes, city staff collect between 400 and 500 abandoned carts every year. While the problem technically falls under Brampton’s existing refuse and dumping bylaw, Boyes said staff are drafting a new, more targeted regulation.
“We’re working with bylaw to bring a fee or bylaw during this year’s budget process for the storage and essentially fining for the retrieval of a shopping cart,” Boyes explained. Under the proposal, fines would be levied against the stores the carts belong to, with the aim of changing behaviour and offsetting costs.
“We’re hoping that would change the behaviour and be a revenue stream in the short term,” he added, noting details are still being refined.
Currently, fines can be issued under the city’s parklands bylaw if offenders are caught abandoning carts, though enforcement is challenging. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to report discarded carts by calling 3-1-1.
If approved, the new bylaw will be presented during Brampton’s 2026 budget deliberations.