Local stores will need to figure out how to retrieve their abandoned shopping carts.
Thunder Bay City Council approved a motion last night to begin creating a by-law to reduce the number of shopping carts scattered across the city.
It would require stores to ensure each cart has an identification label listing the owner and contact information.
City staff will start developing the by-law, which will also include fees for stores that don’t develop plans to deal with their carts.
A report from staff calls abandoned shopping carts “a growing problem” in the city.
Enforcement Manager Doug Vincent notes that while they will penalize stores that don’t comply, punishing the people who take carts off of store property isn’t the goal.
If the city got police involved or handed out tickets, he says, “Whether directly or indirectly, we’re going to be targeting people who are more vulnerable, or who don’t have transportation, or who use them for other purposes.”
Westfort Councillor Kristen Oliver appreciates the plan to involve stores in the by-law.
“More often than not, they know their customers and what their customers needs are,” she points out, calling it “fair and practical” to brainstorm solutions with retailers.
The two-phase approach starts with releasing the guidelines for “control and recovery” plans by November 30, 2021, and requiring store owners to have an acceptable plan by May 31, 2022.
City staff will give an update on the by-law’s effectiveness after three years.
