abandoned supermarket trolleys

Abandoned Supermarket Abandoned Supermarket TrolleysTrolleys

Format of PresentationFormat of Presentation

• Scale of the problem• Existing Arrangements• Cost of the Service• Legislation• Options for Change• Consultation• Considerations• Questions

Scale of the ProblemScale of the Problem

• Most of the abandoned trolleys in town originate from Tesco or Asda and the majority are abandoned in the Hightown/Caia area, causing problems particularly around the river Gwenfro. On average 30 trolleys/week are collected in this area.

• There are also some problems by Glyndwr University halls of residence however Sainsbury’s make daily visits to collect from this point and few trolleys are discovered beyond this point.

Existing Arrangements

• Trolleys are collected by streetscene staff and taken to a secure depot on Wrexham Industrial Estate. They are then collected by the appropriate supermarkets, or contractors acting on their behalf

• Tesco and Asda collect from the depot and their contractors will also ‘scout’ around the area to collect the trolleys directly.

• Tesco and Asda have fitted brake locks to all of their trolleys

Cost to WCBC of the existing arrangements

Because of the irregular requirement of collections, it is difficult to put an accurate cost on providing the service. However it is estimated that the cost of collection and managing the storage/dispatch of the trolleys costs the Authority in the region of £7,500.00 per annum. Of more concern is the fact that collecting the trolleys takes the limited streetscene workforce away from its normal day to day duties.

LegislationLegislation

• Section 99 EPA 1990• Schedule 4 EPA 1990 as amended• Section 99 CNEA 2005• Defra Guidance 2007 (2documents)

Options for ChangeOptions for Change

• DEFRA recommends voluntary measures

• If these fail, CNEA allows charging

CNEA Charging Arrangements

Before the owner of the trolley can be charged

• The Local Authority must notify the relevant supermarket that they are holding their trolleys

• The Local Authority must store the trolleys for up to 6 weeks to allow the supermarkets to arrange collection

• If the supermarkets do not then arrange collection, a charge may be levied against the owner.Under the current arrangements it is unlikely that any charge would result as the trolleys would be collected within the specified timescales.

ConsultationConsultation

Before a charging policy can be introduced…

• Legislation details a consultation process to be followed

• Consultation must take place with supermarkets

• The order must be published in local newspapers

Progress• Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury have been

consulted• Tesco objected, requested further meeting

ConsiderationsConsiderations

• Will this improve the situation? Should we stay as we are?

• Tesco offering to meet

• Alternatives?...coin operated trolleys?

• Any changes will require appropriate resources- time consuming

• Abandoned trolleys = theft

Any questions?Any questions?