Collection and Disposal of Abandoned Shopping Carts

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends that:

(1)the report (April 15, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services; be adopted;

(2)a meeting be convened to discuss this matter and that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be requested report to the Planning and Transportation Committee for its meeting on September 13, 1999 on the outcome of these discussions, and that:

(a)representation at this meeting include grocers and retail associations, staff from City Divisions of Parks and Transportation, Toronto Housing Company, Toronto Regional Conservation Authority, Property Standards, CN & CP and interested Councillors; and

(b)all City Councillors be invited to attend.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee submits the following report (April 15, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

This report seeks authority to develop and call bids for the collection and disposal of shopping carts that are abandoned in the road allowance.

Source of Funds:

There are no costs associated with this program. The program would be a source of an estimated revenue of $12,500.00 annually for the Transportation Services Division.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that staff be authorized to develop requests for bids for the collection and disposal of shopping carts abandoned on road allowances in accordance with the conditions set forth in this report and with the City's bid process.

Background:

Shopping carts that are abandoned within road allowances can create serious hazards. In many cases, they are a hazard for pedestrians on the sidewalk, to vehicles maneuvering on the roadway and to City staff operating equipment on the pavement, sidewalks or boulevards. Regular staff patrols pick up shopping carts and deliver them to City yards. Some members of the public also pick up some of these carts and deliver them to City yards, where they are generally stored for 30 days and then sold to recycling companies if the owners of the carts do not claim them within this time frame.

No specific policy was established in the previous municipalities and the various processes that were in place were generally ad hoc procedures developed through experience.

Discussion:

In general terms, the number of abandoned shopping carts is significant. Overall, about 2,300 abandoned carts are picked up from the road allowance in the City of Toronto. A small percentage, about 20 percent to 25 percent, are retrieved by their original owners and the remainder are sold. Only the former municipalities of Etobicoke, North York and York charged for each cart sold an amount of $5.00. A modest total revenue of $4,000.00 to $4,500.00 per year was collected. Notwithstanding, this method of disposal is efficient because the greatest proportion of shopping carts are recycled thereby decreasing the visual and waste pollution that they create.

There is now a need to establish a common process that will coordinate the activities in all yards to ensure that the collection and disposition of abandoned shopping carts is common throughout the municipality. However, given that the City does not have facilities to properly recycle the carts themselves for continued use, it is appropriate that their collection and disposition be undertaken by a qualified business.

From an environmental perspective, it would be preferable that the carts be recycled rather than scrapped. Hence, it is important that the successful contractor demonstrate adequate previous experience in the recycling of these carts.

The collected carts create a significant problem in service yards due to the area that has to be allocated for their storage. Any new system should require that carts are securely stored at a location outside City yards. The successful recycling company could then release the carts to their original owners within the specified 30 days or, after that period has expired, initiate the recycling process. This would free up space in the yards which is required for other purposes.

The manner in which the carts are transported from the yards to the recycling plant is also important, as enclosed vehicles should preferably be utilized for public safety.

Finally, the frequency of pick up from the service yards should be a factor of consideration to ensure that the length of time abandoned shopping carts have to be stored at roads or works yards is minimized. One option, for example, would be to have carts picked up at least weekly from two yards in each of the four Transportation Services districts.

Conclusion:

Abandoned shopping carts in the road allowance create a number of significant hazards for pedestrians, drivers, City employees and the public at large. As a result, it is necessary to retrieve these carts and securely store them until their safe disposal is possible. In the past, it has been determined that the most appropriate manner in which to dispose of these carts is to sell them to companies which recycle the carts for re-use. This manner of disposal should be continued, however, there is now an opportunity to improve in the methods of collection, storage and disposal, so that City yards are not cluttered with abandoned shopping carts for extended periods of time.

These factors should be included in the preparation of an invitation to bid for the collection and disposal of shopping carts abandoned on road allowances in the City of Toronto.

Contact:

Roberto StopnickiJohn Thomas

Director, Transportation ServicesDirector, Transportation Services

District 3District 2

Phone: (416) 395-7480Phone (416) 394-8341