New bylaw aims to recover taxpayer costs and address growing complaints in parks and public spaces
The City of Brampton has adopted a new bylaw that will require grocers and retailers to pay a $100 fee for every abandoned shopping cart collected by city staff on public property.
The measure was approved as part of Brampton’s 2026 municipal budget, finalized on Feb. 6. It follows concerns raised last fall by Wards 1 and 5 Coun. Rowena Santos about the growing number of shopping carts left in parks, playgrounds, waterways and other publicly owned spaces.
Santos told council that complaints to her office about abandoned carts have become frequent, with residents often contacting 311 or bylaw enforcement to report carts left at transit stations, in green spaces and even in stormwater management ponds.
Previously, abandoned carts were addressed under the city’s refuse and dumping bylaws, with fines issued under the parklands bylaw only if offenders were caught — something officials say was rare. As a result, city crews were routinely tasked with collecting and returning carts to retailers at public expense.
Commissioner of Community Services Brad Boyes told council that staff retrieve approximately 400 to 500 shopping carts each year. Under the new bylaw, that could translate into between $40,000 and $50,000 annually in cost recovery for the municipality.
“The challenge is that when residents call, they expect us to take care of it,” Santos said during council discussions, noting that parks and bylaw staff must retrieve and return carts because they are not city property.
While some large retailers use anti-theft wheel-lock systems or other deterrent technologies to prevent carts from being removed from store property, not all businesses have implemented such measures.
Council has directed staff to examine the feasibility of future municipal legislation that would require large retailers to adopt anti-theft cart technology. A report with recommendations is expected at a future council meeting.
City officials say the new fine is intended to encourage retailers to strengthen cart retrieval practices while ensuring taxpayers are not footing the bill for cleanup efforts.