In the news: Basildon councillor urges supermarkets to take responsibility for abandoned shopping trolleys
The councillor in charge of Community Safety & Enforcement in Basildon is calling on supermarkets to take greater responsibility for discarded shopping trolleys found on the borough's residential estates.
In response to a question at a full Council meeting, Cllr Melissa McGeorge stated: "This is a crucial issue for the cleanliness and wellbeing of our neighbourhoods, and it's something we are heavily investing in, including the return of weekly waste collections and the reintroduction of the much-loved Crunch service.
"Most of our residents are responsible with their shopping trolleys, returning them to the supermarket when they're finished. These trolleys belong to the supermarkets, so this issue is one they should be handling, not the council.
"However, if supermarkets fail to take action and collect the trolleys from our residential areas promptly, the council will step in. But should we have to intervene, there will be a charge for each trolley removed, along with a daily storage fee and disposal costs if the trolleys aren't collected.
"As a council, we are committed to supporting businesses, but they also need to do their part and act responsibly. I'm calling on the supermarkets in the Borough to help by ensuring they collect their trolleys on time. If they don't, we will do it for them
"Our cleansing teams have been removing any abandoned trolleys they come across, but this cannot continue indefinitely. I will be asking officers to explore the option of charging supermarkets for the removal of these trolleys if this situation continues."
Cllr McGeorge added: "I have to say a special thank you to my colleague councillors, the ward members for Pitsea South East, who led by example and spent a Sunday cleaning up their area, collecting and returning 63 shopping trolleys to where they belong - well done!"
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Published 21 March 20225