The City of Brampton has approved a new measure aimed at tackling the growing problem of abandoned shopping carts across public spaces. As part of discussions around the proposed 2026 municipal budget, city council decided that retailers will be charged a $100 fee for each shopping cart found abandoned on municipal property.
The decision comes after officials reported a rise in complaints from residents about shopping carts being left in parks, waterways, transit stops, parking lots and other public areas. According to city leaders, retrieving and returning these carts requires considerable staff time and municipal resources, creating unnecessary costs for the city.
Under the new policy, the $100 charge will be applied when city staff recover a cart that clearly belongs to a retailer and determine that the business has not properly managed its carts. The fine is intended to cover the expenses involved in collecting and returning the carts to the store.
City officials emphasized that the rule will apply in cases where abandoned carts create safety risks or environmental concerns. Council documents state that discarded carts can obstruct sidewalks, pose dangers to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, and limit accessibility in public spaces. They can also end up in waterways or green areas, where they contribute to pollution and threaten local wildlife.
Council members acknowledged that the issue has become increasingly common, prompting the city to seek stronger measures to hold businesses accountable for managing their carts responsibly.
During the budget discussions, councillors also addressed the role of major retailers, including Walmart. According to meeting documents, Walmart currently does not use GPS-based locking technology on its shopping carts at its Brampton locations. Such technology can prevent carts from being taken beyond a certain distance from the store.
City staff have now been asked to review the issue further and report back in the first quarter of 2026. The report will examine whether Brampton should require retailers to install locking systems or other technology that would prevent shopping carts from leaving store property.
Officials say the new fee is intended not only to recover municipal costs but also to encourage retailers to take greater responsibility for preventing carts from being abandoned throughout the city.
