Brampton — The City of Brampton is exploring new measures to address the growing issue of abandoned shopping carts across streets, parks, and ravines, including the possibility of requiring retailers to install locking devices on carts.
The proposal comes after the city recently approved a $100 fine for every abandoned cart collected and returned to a retailer. Now, councillors will review whether mandatory wheel-lock systems should also be introduced as part of a broader effort to reduce misuse and cleanup costs.
A staff report heading to committee this week says one common solution involves electronic wheel-lock technology that automatically activates when a cart crosses a set boundary outside store property. Once triggered, the cart’s wheels lock, preventing it from being taken further.
City officials say Brampton currently recovers about 400 abandoned carts each year, creating an ongoing burden for municipal crews and taxpayers.
The report also notes that other methods used by retailers include coin-deposit cart systems, routine staff retrieval from parking lots, and contracts with private cart recovery companies.
However, staff caution that locking systems may not work everywhere. In many plazas and commercial areas, parking lots are shared by multiple businesses or managed by property owners, making it more difficult for individual stores to establish the necessary perimeter boundaries for the technology to function properly.
Because of those limitations, city staff are recommending against making wheel-lock devices mandatory at this time. The final decision, however, will rest with Brampton councillors.
The discussion reflects the city’s continued push to improve neighbourhood cleanliness, reduce public clutter, and hold businesses more accountable for carts that end up abandoned far from store locations.