Shopping trolleys are the target of a state-wide push by the Local Government Association of South Australia, which says regions must rid themselves of the free-wheeling grocery carts.

Abandoned shopping trolleys are a bane to communities, LGA SA says, they block footpaths, clog stormwater drains and are an easy target for theft and vandalism.

These blights can be remedied, however, if shoppers take some small initiative and return them to supermarkets.

Local Government Association SA acting president Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said a survey has been issued to gather data on abandoned shopping trolleys and their impacts on councils across South Australia.

 “We've looked at this issue before,” Cr Rosenberg, Major of Onkaparinga, said.

The new initiative to get wayward trolleys off the streets was raised at the LGA Annual General Meeting late last year, which resolved that; “the Local Government Association investigate options for Local Government to proactively address the issues with discarded shopping trolleys in suburban streets and parks”.

“[We] are aware that Woolworths now have a ‘trolley tracker’ smartphone app and Coles has a telephone reporting system and smartphone app,” Cr Rosenberg said. 

“Survey responses will give us better data to assess the size of the problem, current management systems and possible solutions.

“At the time it was concluded that while there were legal means to deal with abandoned trolleys this would place additional resource demands on Councils and non-legislative options such as communications with shopping centres and supermarkets could minimise the problem. 

“It's time for a fresh look,” she said. 

Anyone wishing to take the charge of turning back the trolleys can do so with relevant apps from Coles, Woolworths, Foodland or Trolley Tracker.